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SPORTING RIFLES 
AND RIFLE SHOOTING 




THEODORE ROOSEVELT 
From an unpublished photograph taken at Jinja, Uganda, in 1910 



SPORTING RIFLES 
AND RIFLE SHOOTING 



BY 

JOHN CASWELL 

COLONEL, RETIRED, MASSACHUSETTS NATIONAL GUARD; LATE MAJOR, 
ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT, U. S. R., A. E. F. ; FORMERLY CHIEF 
ORDNANCE OFFICER AND INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF SMALL- 
ARMS PRACTICE, COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS 




ILLUSTRATED 



D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 

NEW YORK LONDON 

1920 



a* 



COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY 

D. APPLET ON AND COMPANYi 



PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OV AMERICA 



©CI.A570529 

JU -3 1320 



TO THOSE SPORTSMEN AND EXPLORERS 
WHO HAVE PASSED.OVER THE FAR 
RANGE AND HAVE FOUND THEIR GREAT 
DESIRE IN THE HAPPY HUNTING 
GROUNDS; AND IN PARTICULAR TO THE 
MEMORY OF THE ONE WHO STANDS 
PREEMINENT AMONG THEM AS THE 
PERSONIFICATION OF AMERICAN 
PATRIOTISM AND CLEAN SPORT 

THEODORE ROOSEVELT 



PREFACE 

What visions the rifle conjures to memory 1 It 
is the very embodiment of the American spirit, a 
magic carpet which takes us to many lands and 
always to deeds of daring or of fame. There is 
nothing mean or petty in these visions. They are 
all of the great outdoors, of nature, of God's foot- 
stool, of the distant portions of the world, of the 
back blocks of civilization. 

And what names and events we remember in 
connection with the rifle and its use! Does not 
the flintlock bring memories of the voyageur or 
the coureur du bois of the French and Indian 
Wars, with his buckskin-fringed leggins, coon- 
skin cap, powder horn and bullet pouch; of the 
New England farmer causing the rout and re- 
treat of the British at Lexington and Concord? 
Does not Sharp's "Old Reliable" buffalo gun con- 
jure up the long lines of prairie schooners and the 
rush to the Great West, the slowly advancing 
civilization, the pushing forward of the great rail- 
roads which unified this country? Can we not 
see the "thin red line" of British riflemen in the 

vii 



PREFACE 

Crimean War, stopping and shattering the on- 
rush of Russian cavalry? Does not the Win- 
chester 44, our famous gun of the early seventies, 
recall the wonderful stories of grizzly, of elk, 
buffalo, and deer, the arrival of our Industrial life 
at the last frontier of nature? 

Then the heavy double elephant and big-game 
rifles! What tales they tell of stirring en- 
counters in forest or jungle; what hairbreadth 
escapes, what memories of mighty hunters, what 
names, famous for all time, as men of the great 
outdoors, as brethren of the community called the 
world ! They conjure long vistas of scenes in the 
far corners of the earth, of camp with the porters 
at evening meal around their little fires, of the 
Somali at sunset telling his beads to Allah, of the 
bamboos with their feathery tops, of the clear, 
wonderful atmosphere of the Highlands of 
Africa, 

In our own land, with the smaller-bore high- 
power rifles we may see in the firelight visions of 
the clear evening light across the calm lake, the 
moon just rising, the violet light descending on 
the autumn tints of foliage on the hills, and hear 
once more the answer of the great bull moose as 
he comes to his lovemaking. Or, perhaps, it is 

viii 



PREFACE 

among the rocky peaks above timber-line, every 
feature clear and distinct at the great altitude, 
that our hunt has taken us for sheep or goat. 
We can recall the first flush of morning across the 
snow-capped mountains in the distance, with its 
faint tints of rose and saffron, the forerunner of 
a perfect day, our camp below in the little gulch 
with the noisy stream and the sweet scent of pine 
and balsam, the pungent smoke of the campfire, 
and the faint tinkle of the bell-mare with our pack 
ponies. 

And to come to the nearer present, who can for- 
get the wonderful rear-guard action of the British 
from Mons, when the shooting of the "Old Con- 
temp tibles," nucleus of that great fighting 
machine, the British Army, saved the day for the 
world ; enabling the French to collect their forces 
for the combined effort at Meaux which resulted 
in the repulse of the Germans at the first Battle 
of the Marne ; or the action of our own Marines at 
Chateau-Thierry, deliberately changing their 
sights, as a French officer of the General Staff 
told me, in the face of the enemy advancing across 
the wheat field, where once again riflemen in open 
formation checked the advance of German in- 
fantry which greatly outnumbered them. 

ix 



PREFACE 

The rifle is the one weapon justified by civiliza- 
tion, for it is an instrument through which man 
may assert the supremacy of mind over matter. 
It is the mechanical medium through which we 
are enabled to overcome the problems presented 
by Nature, be they those of the elements or of the 
habits of game. To use it recalls no memory 
mean or small. All the greatest achievements in 
sport or in war have been connected with its use. 

The rifle stands for law and order in times of 
peace, and skill in its use is of inestimable value 
in times of war, upholding those ideals which are 
next to man's very soul, the preservation of 
hearth, home, and country. It takes a man from 
the sordid cares of life to the great wilderness, 
where he can get a breath of God's pure air, to the 
solitude of the Northland or the misty, steamy 
jungle of the Equator. It gives the human soul 
a chance for introspection untrammeled by civili- 
zation, brings him nearer to Nature and to 
realization of the Great Beyond. 

It has been my good fortune to have been for a 
good many years in a position to see not only the 
theoretical and scientific, but also the practical 
side of rifle shooting. The notes and suggestions 
contained in this book are the result of experience 



PREFACE 

in many lands and against practically all kinds of 
game, as well as on the target range and in actual 
military service. 

Its purpose is to supply data for the hunter 
against game and to give both hunter and target 
shooter more simple solutions of the rather intri- 
cate methods in use for the calculation of eleva- 
tion, windage, and atmospheric conditions. For 
the benefit of those not conversant with the rifle, I 
have added a glossary of technical terms in use 
among riflemen and a simple explanation of the 
fundamental principles involved in rifle shooting. 

J. C. 



XI 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Preface . vii 

CHAPTEB 

I Rifle Types . 1 

II Game Rifles 13 

III Target Rifles 30 

IV Actions 39 

V Stocks 49 

' VI Sights 56 

VII Cleaning 81 

VIII Bullets 94 

IX Lubrication of Bullets 105 

Xi Cartridges 114 

XI Elevations 133 

XII Windage and Atmosphere .143 

XIII Judgment of Distance 154 

XIV Position 160 

XV Aiming and Trigger Squeeze . . . . .166 

XVI Stalking and Cover . . . . . . .174 

XVII Aims for Vital Points on Game . . . .185 

xiii 



CONTENTS 

Appendices j, aoe 

I Historical Sketch of the Evolution of 

the Rifle 207 

II Pope Rifle Barrels 218 

III Extract from "U. S. Small-arms Firing 

Regulations, 1913" 235 

IV Glossary .'.... 239 

V Score Sheet or Card Employed by the 

Author 242 

VI Tables of Loads, Pressures and Velocities 
in Actual Firing by the Author to Ob- 
tain Data for the Cartridges Recom- 
mended in Chapter X 244 

VII Ballistic Tests of New 30-caliber, 180- 

grain Expanding Bullet 247 

VIII A Select Chronological Bibliography of 

the Rifle 250 



xiv 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



Theodore Roosevelt Frontispiece J 

FIGURE PAGE 

1. 22-caliber Winchester bolt-action rifle, 1920, 

fitted with sporting stock Facing 6 ' 

2. Action of 1920 22-caliber Winchester . . . Facing 6 

3. Sheard gold bead front sight 7 

4. 30-caliber Springfield rifle, U. S. Model, 1903, as 

issued Facing 14 v 

5. 30-caliber 1903 Springfield with sporting stock 

and Pope barrel Facing 14 

6. Purdey double 465 Cordite rifle Facing 16"' 

7. Holland & Holland double 375 Cordite rifle . . Facing 16 

8. Krag. U. S. model 1898 fitted with Pope barrel . Facing 20 

9. 30/40 Winchester single-shot rifle fitted with 

Zeiss prismatic telescope . . . . . . . Facing 20 

10. Pope's latest form of 30-caliber long-range 

rifling 25 

11. 30-caliber bullet with expanding base 27 

12. Base of 30-caliber bullet showing deformation 

caused by lands 28 

13. 32/40 Schuetzen rifle, Winchester action, Pope 

32-inch barrel; with three groups, actual size, 

shot with this rifle at 100 yards, machine rest Facing 30 

14. Lyman No. 103 peep rear sight with wind gauge ... 32 

15. Pope peep rear sight with wind gauge 32 

16. Soule peep rear sight with wind gauge 33 

17. Types of rifling, 30-caliber rifles 35 

18. Pope's "Dog Fight Gun" ....... Facing 34^ 

XV 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



FIGURE 



PAGE 



19. Groups shot by Pope with his " Dog Fight Gun," 

reduced one-half . Facing 36'-- 

20. Groups of five shot at 50 feet with 22-short tar- 

get rifle, 30-inch Pope barrel; reduced one-half Facing 38* 

21. Mauser action, 1895 41 

22. Action of U. S. Springfield magazine rifle, 

model 1903 43 

23. Block for stock, showing straight grain 50 

24. Stock measurements 50 

25. Screw from cap of pistol grip to tang strap to 

strengthen small of the stock 54 

26. Types of bar sights 57 

27. Bad combinations of sights 58 

28. Good combinations of sights 58 

29. Undesirable combinations of sights 59 

30. Front open sights in general use ........ 59 

31. Front globe target sight, with spare disk 60 

32. Properly proportioned square-topped front 

sight with square rear notch 61 

33. Forms of V rear sights for Express rifles 62 

34. Author's favorite sight 63 

35. Target sight showing concentric circles 64 

36. Lyman rear peep sight with cut ring . . 66 

37. Front bead sight showing relief or slant of ten 

degrees on bead 68 

38. Lyman No. 48 rear peep sight for Springfield .... 69 

39. Gloaming or night sights 73 

40. Original score card of Massachusetts team in 

Herrick Trophy Match, Camp Perry, Ohio, 

1909 Facing 76 

41. Neidner cleaner 87 

42. Ammonia cleaning device 89 

43. Hot-water funnel 92 

xvi 



ILLUSTRATIONS 

FIOURI 

44. 22-caliber long-rifle bullets, solid and hollow 
point to illustrate the insertion of shot in the 
cavity 



45. Sections of bullets 99 

46. Comparative sizes of cartridges Facing 114 

47. Ten shots at 100 yards, muzzle and elbow rest, 

U. S. Springfield '03 rifle with Pope barrel, 
48.7 grains Du Pont No. 17 powder, 180-grain 
solid- jacket bullet 118 

48. Groups shot with U. S. Springfield '03 rifle with 

reduced load of 19 grains Du Pont No. 75 

powder, 150-grain metal- jacketed bullet 120 

49. Section of interior of 30-caliber Springfield car- 

tridge cases 1M 

50. Ten shots right and left 465 Cordite rifle, full 

charge, shot at 50 yards, offhand position .... 129 

51. Ten shots right and left 465 Cordite rifle, full 

charge, shot at 100 yards, offhand position .... 129 

59. Wind flags indicating strength of wind in miles 

per hour 146 

53. Mirages as seen through coaching telescape . Facing 148 ■ 

54. Judgment of distance by comparison with height 

of front sight 157 

55. Judgment of distance by comparison with bore 

of 30-caliber rifle 158 

56. Offhand position of American rifleman . . . Facing 160' 

57. Tremor of sight and waver of sighting 169 

58. Part of the author's bag, British East Africa, 

1910-11 Facing 174 

59. Rothschild's giraffe (Reticulata) shot on Isiolo 

River, British East Africa, 1911 .... Facing 178' 

60. Moose shot on the Patapedia River, Quebec, 

Canada, October, 1903 Facing 189 -" 

61. Side shot on deer Facing 186 

62. Comparison of amount of base remaining of 

expanded, soft-point, metal- jacketed bullets .... 188 

63. Side shot on moose Facing 190' 

xvii 



ILLUSTRATIONS 

FIGTJRE PAGE 

64. Lion and lioness shot on the Stony Athi River, 

British East Africa, December, 1910 . . . Facing 194 

65. Oryx Biesa shot on the Garan n'Dare River, 

British East Africa, 1911 Facing 202 

66. The author's Safari coming into Fort Nyeri, 

British East Africa, 1911 Facing 198 

67. Side shot on bear Facing 204 

68. Side shot on lioness • • Facing 204 v 

69. Side shot on eland Facing 204 • 

70. Head shot on hippopotamus Facing 204 

71. Side shot on rhinoceros Facing 204 

72. Head-on shot on rhinoceros Facing 204 

73. Side shot on sable antelope Facing 204 

74. Side shot on elephant Facing 204 

75. Flint-lock rifle made by Biddle, Philadelphia, 

about 1780 Facing 208 

76. Percussion target rifle, German, but with Eng- 

lish proof marks, about 1850 Facing 208' 

77. Sharp's " Old Reliable " 45-caliber rifle . . . Facing 210 

78. Winchester 44/40 model, 1873 Facing 210 

79. Pope rifling as used in Schuetzen target rifles . . . . 220 

80. Pope false muzzle and bullet seater . 227 

81. Page from author's score book 243 



xvm 



SPORTING RIFLES 
AND RIFLE SHOOTING 



SPORTING RIFLES 
AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

CHAPTER I 

EIFLE TYPES 

Few men who use the rifle to hunt with are 
thoroughly conversant with the scientific side of 
rifle shooting; those who are cognizant only of 
its range use are unaware of the rough side, de- 
void of all refinement of sights, ammunition, 
cleaning, etc. Yet theoretically both target work 
and the use of the weapon in the field are inti- 
mately related; in fact, they cannot be separated. 

Here in America we are inclined to trust too 
much to the claims made by their makers for 
new types of weapons. It is a long way from 
the elaborate sporting-goods store with its at- 
tractive display of rifles to the thickets of Kadiak 
Island or the thorn scrub of Africa; and the 
hunter generally learns to his cost that the sales- 
man was unacquainted with the actual use of his 

1 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

rifle against heavy game. So, too, with many 
of our writers in the sporting magazines; they 
write of the effect of bullets on game which they 
have never seen except in a menagerie. 

For many years we have heard of the all- 
around rifle. There is no such thing. True, 
there are rifles that may be used for both target 
and sporting purposes, but with the exception of 
the U. S. Springfield '03 and rifles of that type 
which have been introduced in recent years, few, 
if any, fulfill adequately both requirements, and 
these are mainly for long-range target work. 
Many times one is asked which is the best rifle, 
and the questioner seems rather put out at the 
answer: "What for?" Now each rifle is made 
for some specific purpose and then adapted to 
others. 

The main requirements of a sporting rifle are 
accuracy and sufficient power to deliver a killing 
blow to the game shot at. 

All game animals may be divided into two 
classes — dangerous and non-dangerous. In the 
United States we have practically no really dan- 
gerous game with the exception of the larger 
bears and possibly the moose. Then, too, game 
is not dangerous unless charging or seeking life, 

2 



RIFLE TYPES 

and so we may cut down the chances of danger 
to about three per cent, in the case of moose and 
not more than ten per cent, with bear. My per- 
sonal experience with moose extends over some 
sixteen years of shooting, and during that time I 
have seen over three hundred* but in no case did 
any moose attempt to attack uninjured. In 
1902, at Amqui, Quebec, I made an offer to pay 
fifty dollars to anjr one who would go before a 
notary or cure and make a statement under oath 
that he had been attacked by a moose unpro- 
voked. So far no one has claimed the fifty dol- 
lars. Many habitants have assured me that a 
wife's cousin or other relative or acquaintance 
had been treed from two hours to two days by a 
moose, but the actual subject of attack has not 
appeared. 

So, too, in Africa. The unprovoked charge 
of animals is almost unknown, although a rhino 
or a lone bull buffalo will sometimes, and an 
elephant will generally, charge the scent up wind, 
and an old rogue elephant is an ugly customer. 

For all types of game shooting only three rifles 
are necessary: (1) A small, light weapon with- 
out recoil and with inexpensive ammunition 
for grouse, rabbits, birds, and small animals; 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

(2) a powerful small-bore, high-velocity weapon 
with good shocking power for all non-dangerous 
game; and (3) a heavy weapon of great power 
for the larger pachyderms. These requirements 
are fulfilled by the 22-caliber repeater handling 
the long-rifle cartridge for rifle 1; by the U. S. 
Springfield '03 chambered for the '06 cartridge, 
carrying the 180-grain bullet with 2,700 foot- 
seconds velocity for rifle 2 ; and by a double cor- 
dite rifle of 450-bore or greater with a bullet of 
480 grains weight and a velocity of 2,150 foot- 
seconds for rifle 3. 

These are the minimum requirements. Now 
let us see what energy the various weapons de- 
velop, not at the muzzle, but at the average range 
at which the game is hit. 

The 22-long rifle with a 40-grain bullet and a 
charge of 3.4 grains of Lesmok powder develops 
a muzzle velocity of 1,035 foot-seconds and an 
energy of 82 foot-pounds at 50 yards. This is 
the actual limit of range for this little gun to do 
effective work and kill, so we may call the neces- 
sary energy at usual ranges for this rifle 75 foot- 
pounds. A 30-caliber rifle with 180-grain bul- 
let developing a muzzle velocity of 2,720 foot- 
seconds gives a striking energy of 2,560 foot- 

4 



EIFLE TYPES 

pounds at 100 yards; and the 450-bore, 480- 
grain, 2,150 foot-seconds rifle gives us 4,130 foot- 
pounds at 100 yards. We may, therefore, take 
the blow needed to kill game cleanly and neatly 
as follows: 

Small game ... 75 foot-pounds at 50 yards 

Non-dangerous 

game 2,500 foot-pounds at 100 yards 

Heavy game . 4,000 foot-pounds or more at 100 yards 

The Springfield may be loaded with the regu- 
lation service charge, with the 150-grain bullet 
of 2,700 feet per second velocity, and still be 
strong enough for all eastern game; if for use 
in Maine and the eastern states, a still further 
reduction of the power of the cartridge to give 
about 2,000 feet velocity and 1,700 foot-pounds 
of energy will make a good deer gun. It must 
be remembered, however, that although reduced 
velocity and reduced energy give accurate shoot- 
ing and lighter recoil, one is not utilizing the full 
capacities of his weapon either as to range or kill- 
ing power ; and also that when a low-power load 
is used with a lead bullet, the fouling remaining 
in the barrel will render the service cartridge with 
its metal-patched bullet inaccurate. 

Now as to the individual merits of different 

5 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

types of rifle 1. Nearly all commercial 22-cali- 
ber repeaters are made ridiculously small and 
light; in fact, the stocks would hardly fit a boy 
ten years of age. In former years one could ob- 
tain a rationally shaped rifle of decent weight 
only by using a 22-caliber barrel on a single-shot 
action. Then, too, the repeaters were nearly 
always faulty in functioning the 22-long rifle 
cartridge. From the appearance and balance of 
recent military arms, however, it would seem that 
the manufacturers have at last realized that the 
demand is for a 22-caliber rifle of proper size for 
the average man. 

The best rifles for military target use and for 
small game handle a 22 long-rifle cartridge, and 
lately a type of gun has been placed on the mar- 
ket conforming very generally with the regula- 
tion Springfield rifle in weight, size, and action. 
Both the Winchester and the Savage Arms Com- 
pany make weapons of this type. I think the 
Winchester with its six grooves will handle the 
small bullet better than the Savage with four. 
One fault of both of these rifles is that they are 
bored a little too small for the diameter of the 
bullet employed. These guns make most excel- 
lent sporting weapons when restocked or with 

6 




Q H 

E ° 



2 o 

O O 

«! <-" 
i 



RIFLE TYPES 

the original stock altered to suit the shooter. I 
find the stock as turned out by the factory too 
short, and it is best to lengthen it by a thicker 
vulcanite butt plate. The forehand may be cut 
down and an additional cap of vulcanite put on 
the end of the pistol grip, which will make it con- 
form better to the average man's hand. 

The sight also should be changed, and I think 
for game shooting that a Sheard gold bead front 
sight one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter or 



■JLi 




FIGURE 3. SHEARD GOLD BEAD FRONT SIGHT 

one of King's sights of similar pattern is best seen. 
The rear sight as supplied with the rifle cuts off 
entirely too much of the surrounding landscape, 
and a Lyman 103 tang sight or a Lyman 48 
adapted to the original sight block is the best. 
One must bear in mind that for all practical pur- 
poses a 22 is only an understudy to the more pow- 
erful weapon, a preparation and training, so to 
say, for the Springfield, with the advantages of 
cheap ammunition and limited range and dan- 
ger zone. The nearer we conform either to the 
military or sporting type of the larger gun in 

7 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

every detail, the better preparation for its use 
at longer ranges or in the field. 

Now let us take up the gun that will be the 
most used in hunting game of any size, non-dan- 
gerous. Here we are limited in diameter of bore 
from 256 to 300 thousands of an inch and have 
open to our choice the Manlicher, Mauser, Ross, 
and Springfield. First let me say that the seven- 
millimeter or 275-bore is the nearest approach 
to the ballistic ideal, both as to wind cutting and 
range. We have the seven-millimeter Mauser 
with a charge of 42% grains and bullet of 139 
grains, velocity at the muzzle, 2,784 foot-seconds, 
energy at 100 yards, 2,057 foot-pounds. The 
weak point is our energy, which falls nearly 500 
foot-pounds below the required standard and puts 
this rifle out of consideration for all but deer and 
lighter game. With the 280 Ross we have a bul- 
let of 145 grains, muzzle velocity, 3,050 foot- 
seconds, and energy at 100 yards, 2,595 foot- 
pounds, but we encounter another problem in 
this gun. The bullet is too light to sustain the 
velocity and therefore breaks up badly before it 
can penetrate far enough into the body of game 
for its energy to be effective on the vital organs. 
The 280 with the 180-grain bullet and 2,700 foot- 

8 



RIFLE TYPES 

second velocity is beside the question, as I know 
of no action that will feed it through the maga- 
zine and function. Then, too, its energy is not 
as great as the 145-grain bullet, being only 2,584 
foot-pounds, although it is very much more effec- 
tive on account of the heavier bullet. 

The unreliability of the 145-grain bullet, 280- 
bore Ross was clearly demonstrated on Kapiti 
Plains, British East Africa, in January, 1911, 
when Mr. George Grey, a brother of Viscount 
Grey, met his death when using this weapon by 
being mauled by a lion. Sir Alfred Pease, Cap- 
tain S latter, young Pease, one of the Hills, and 
George Grey were riding lion. Mr. Grey had 
followed up a lion which finally stood at bay at 
about 100 yards distant. Grey dismounted, 
whereupon the lion charged and he fired three 
shots at the lion as he was coming head on (his 
pony having bolted) ; two hit the lion in the face 
and mouth, but, owing to the angle of the skull, 
merely cut a gutter in his muscles and did not 
penetrate; the bullets evidently expended their 
efforts superficially on the bone. The lion 
downed Mr. Grey and proceeded to chew his 
left arm. Sir Alfred Pease rode up with the 
others and fired a shot from a .256 Manlicher 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

which hit the lion a little too far back. As the 
lion turned he again shot at him, whereupon the 
animal returned to maul Mr. Grey again who 
was still upon the ground. Then Slatter, who 
by the way has only one hand, having lost the 
other in the Boer War, went in close and finished 
the beast with a shot from a 450 No. 2 Cordite 
rifle. There seems to have been a general mix- 
up, as every one was afraid to shoot while Grey 
was on the ground under the lion. He was hor- 
ribly mauled on the arm and shoulder and was 
rushed to the Nairobi Hospital, where he died 
four days later from his wounds. 

There is a row of little white crosses in the 
Nairobi graveyard, where lie the victims of a mis- 
placed confidence in the gun-maker's assertion 
that a small bore with sufficient velocity will 
stop anything. 

One more instance of the Pukka Shikarri's 
opinion of the very small bore, high-velocity 
rifle. Some years ago when the 22 high-power 
Savage was first put on the market, it was ex- 
ploited in many of our magazines by a picture of 
a tiger killed with one shot in Upper Assam, 
India. One was given to understand that it was 
done by a man who heard a noise during the 

10 



RIFLE TYPES 

night in the tea-patch near his house. He 
opened the window and fired at the intruder, and 
found out in the morning that he had killed a 
tiger. Shortly after this a Mr. X from some- 
where in the West wrote to Forest and Stream 
advocating and strongly recommending the use 
of the 22-caliber high-velocity Savage rifle on all 
except the very largest pachyderms. He said 
incidentally that any man who used heavy ord- 
nance was a coward. To this I replied in the 
same paper that no man in his senses would em- 
ploy any but the weapon recommended by men 
of experience, a 450-bore No. 2 Cordite or better, 
against the larger Felidae in heavy jungle. Mr. 
X did not reply. But as I wished to have an 
opinion on the subject, I sent two copies of the 
paper to Major R. J. Cunninghame in Nairobi. 
In due course I received a reply in which he said : 
If Mr. X and his friends of 22 high-velocity 
persuasion will buy a one way ticket to Mombasa 
and will come here with their 22 Savage rifles in 
one hand and their last will and testament in 
the other, I will put them up against lion, and 
will wager what you like that they will quickly 
have use for the latter instrument if they em- 
ploy the former. 

11 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

Now, the two instances are merely given to 
show that it was generally conceded that some- 
thing more than energy, however great it may be, 
is necessary, if the said energy be expended 
superficially. 

We require energy, but we must also have the 
vehicle to convey it to that portion of the body of 
the animal where it will reach and expend its 
force on the vital organs. In order to accom- 
plish this, we must have a bullet of sufficient 
weight and stability to carry deep enough to do 
its work efficiently. 



CHAPTER II 

GAME RIFLES 

For use against non-dangerous game, I most 
strongly recommend a 30-caliber with a bullet of 
sufficient weight to carry the energy of the car- 
tridge deep enough to reach the vital organs of 
the game. Much has been written about the 
medium-bore high-velocity weapon. It is my 
experience that the 35-caliber, the nine-milli- 
meter, the 375-<bore and the 405-bore are purely 
superfluous weapons in a battery, for if we want 
a gun to give a smashing blow, enough to stop or 
turn a charging animal, we want one that will de- 
liver a shock absolutely certain to kill or turn it. 
The medium-bore high-velocity rifles cannot be 
relied upon to do this. Their heavier bullets and 
higher trajectory place them in the inaccurate 
class; thus, they are not dependable when used 
against the largest game. On looking through 
my game book, I find that it contains a fair com- 
parison of various rifles and details of shots at 
almost all kinds of game. 

13 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

In 1897, 1 used a 30/30 Winchester which was 
not powerful enough even for moose. I shortly 
changed to a Winchester 1895 model, taking a 
303 Lee-Metford cartridge. For in those days 
one could obtain expanding bullets of more vari- 
ety and type for this cartridge than for our own 
30/40 Krag, while the ballistic value of the two 
weapons is almost identical. I found, however, 
that for woods shooting, the 303 was not suffi- 
ciently powerful for the quick shot or two usually 
obtained at moose, and therefore changed to a 
375-bore Holland and Holland Manlicher, shoot- 
ing a charge of 40 grains of Cordite and a soft 
pointed bullet of 270 grains weight. I found 
that for shots at short range under 150 yards 
it almost ideally fulfilled the requirements of a 
moose gun, invariably killing with one or two 
shots when well placed. This rifle was super- 
seded by a 375 double by Holland, shooting 42 
grains of Cordite and a 300-grain bullet. The 
ballistic value of this cartridge is almost identical 
with the 405 Winchester, with this advantage, 
however, that the axis of the bullet of the 375 is 
longer than that of the 405 and the vehicle, there- 
fore, is more dependable in carrying the shot 
through the shoulders of a moose, since more of 

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GAME RIFLES 

the base remains to drive in the expanded point 
of the bullet. 

I used this gun for eight years, chiefly in Cana- 
dian shooting, and found it in all respects ex- 
tremely satisfactory. Practically all of the ex- 
panded bullets remained in the body of either 
moose or caribou if hit anywhere about the chest 
or fore shoulders. \ 

With the introduction of the United States 
Springfield model 1903, I tried the earlier pat- 
tern of cartridge with the 220-grain bullet on 
moose and found that its fault, as compared with 
the 375, lay in the lack of shocking force. 
When the cartridge was changed in 1906 to the 
sharp pointed 150-grain bullet of 2,700 foot- 
seconds velocity, I found that the velocity was too 
great for the soft point expanding bullet, espe- 
cially on heavier game, and that they broke up 
superficially many times. With the 150-grain 
solid bullet, provided a heavy bone was hit, the 
bullet generally tumbled or keyholed, making a 
slashing wound. 

In 1910 I found that the 375-bore was not 
powerful enough for the heavy African game. 
As notes in my game book, often repeated, show: 
"Used the .465 to finish with." This led me to 

15 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

discard the 375 -bore, for I found that the Spring- 
field with the 180-grain solid bullet was fully as 
good a killer and infinitely more accurate at the 
longer ranges encountered on the veldt, while 
for the smaller antelope the 150-grain soft 
pointed bullet with 2,700 foot-seconds velocity 
was almost what was required. I say "almost" 
for I had some cartridges loaded with 165-grain 
30/30 bullets, and found their killing qualities 
excellent, the only drawback being the changes 
in sight necessitated by the blunt-pointed bullet 
in place of the sharp Spitzer. 

After all, the remaining energy of the Spring- 
field 180-grain, 2,700 foot-second velocity cart- 
ridge at 100 yards is the factor that we can count 
on ; for it is greater at that distance than that of 
the 375 Cordite or 405 Winchester, while infin- 
itely superior in accuracy; this, together with its 
low trajectory, makes a hit in a vital part on 
game easier and the absolute judgment of dis- 
tance not so important. 

Now, finally, we come to the selection of the 
heavy rifle, the life-saver. In this choice we are 
governed primarily by the shocking force needed 
at the distance ordinarily used, which must be 
sufficient to stop the charge of heavy and dan- 

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GAME RIFLES 

gerous game or at least turn it aside. In the 
general conditions which prevail against such 
game, we may assume these premises : 

(1) Game is not dangerous unless it charges. 

(2) When charging, a head shot will be gen- 
erally required. 

(3) The distance is usually short, not over 50 
yards. 

(4) A reasonable amount of accuracy is 
needed in the weapon to place a shot under the 
strain of excitement in or near a vital point at 
that distance. 

It is the general consensus of opinion among 
experienced hunters of heavy game that a rifle 
with 5,000 foot-pounds muzzle energy will kill 
at a distance from 50 to 100 yards, and that by 
using a larger weapon we handicap ourselves by 
the weight and time required to recover from the 
severe recoil for a second shot; therefore, a rifle 
of 450-bore, shooting a bullet of 480 grains 
weight with a muzzle velocity of 2,150 foot-sec- 
onds, has become the standard weapon for this 
work. 

The 475- and 465-bore rifles are merely modifi- 
cations of the above cartridge, as it is against 
the law in most British colonies for sportsmen to 

17 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

employ guns of the same caliber as the Martini- 
Henry 450-bore or to import cartridges taking 
bullets of that size. 

The accuracy of such a weapon, which is almost 
invariably a double rifle, is a four to five-inch 
group using both barrels at 50 yards, while its 
weight is between 11 and 13 pounds. 

The 256 Manlicher has been rated favorably 
for many years as a reliable gun against non- 
dangerous game. Its reputation is, I think, due 
rather to accuracy than to its shocking power. 
The normal cartridge of 2,550 foot-seconds vel- 
ocity, with a bluff soft -nosed bullet, has scarcely 
energy enough to kill cleanly game of any con- 
siderable size. It will be noted that it does not 
come up to the general requirement of 2,500 foot- 
pounds. With the solid bluff pointed bullet, ex- 
tremely good penetration is obtained, as the fol- 
lowing instance will show. 

In Africa a very well known elephant shot 
and his wife came upon a herd of elephants. 
They both tried the head-shot on two of the beasts 
about 60 yards away, both animals standing close 
together and side on. Mr. X and his wife each 
aimed at exactly the same spot on each animal, 
halfway between the orifice of the eye and the ear 

18 



GAME RIFLES 

at the forward edge of the ear flap. Both ani- 
mals went down stone dead from brain shots. 
Mrs. X was using a 256 Manlicher with solid 
bluff pointed bullets, while Mr. X had a 475 
Cordite with solid metal jackets. The tiny bul- 
let, so well placed, had equaled the big gun in 
this instance; but Mr. X still advocates and 
strongly advises the use of the 475, because at 
close quarters, should a charge occur, it will turn 
an elephant with a stunning shock, even if the 
brain is not reached, as more power is transmitted 
laterally by the larger bullet. 

About ten years ago Gibbs of Bristol intro- 
duced a magnum Manlicher, 256-bore, with 
pointed bullet of 3,100 foot-seconds velocity. 
This weapon has been used extensively and tried 
out pretty thoroughly in Africa and against the 
heavy bear and walrus of the Arctic; the verdict 
has been that the bullet is too light for the velocity 
of the cartridge and breaks up before penetrat- 
ing the vital organs of the animal. Both in 
Africa and in the Arctic with Steffanson, the 
breech pressure developed is greater than the 
primer pocket could stand, causing a blow, back 
past the edges of the firing pin, of small parti- 
cles of copper and foil from the primer. All of 

19 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

which goes to show that the velocity of the cart- 
ridge has been forced too far. 

A rather general rule may be applied to the ex- 
treme velocity cartridge with the normal weight 
of bullet: 100 feet per second for each l/100th 
of an inch diameter of the bullet will give us a 
rational cartridge without dangerous pressure or 
undue premature disintegration of the bullet on 
impact, provided that the longer type of bullet is 
used. 

And now the question arises of the 30-caliber 
rifle. This cartridge has the advantage of being 
the standard adopted by the government of this 
country and we have at hand infinitely more data 
to base our opinion as to its utility and effective- 
ness than we have on any other. Then, too, not 
only from year to year but from week to week, 
one may compare the scores made with this cart- 
ridge in the various rifle competitions. It takes 
us from theorizing and experimental work to the 
actual effect and results obtained. 

There are two types of 30-caliber United 
States Government cartridges, the Krag 1898 
model and the Springfield 1906 model, the for- 
mer with 2,000 foot-seconds velocity, the latter 
with 2,700. The 30-caliber Krag cartridge, while 

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not quite heavy enough for the very largest game 
in this country, that is, moose and Alaskan bear, 
is nevertheless very useful and its case with a rim 
is more easily reloaded and is better adapted to 
single shot rifles than the 30 Springfield rimless. 
Then, too, the pressure is much less, being 39,000 
pounds ; but, even with all its usefulness and ac- 
curacy, the cartridge, compared with the more 
modern 2,700-foot type, is one of the past. If 
we care to reduce the velocity of a 30-caliber rifle 
it can be done as easily in the Springfield as in 
the Krag. If we look at the Springfield cart- 
ridge from a critical point of view it has many 
faults. Chiefly among these is the size of the 
powder chamber, which is too small, and therefore 
a more concentrated powder must be used to get 
the higher velocities now advocated with heavier 
bullets. Also, the neck taper is more abrupt than 
is necessary to hold the cartridge firmly against 
the blow of the firing pin, thus giving a greater 
initial chamber pressure than is necessary. The 
small diameter of the body of the cartridge case 
and head was adopted, I understand, because of 
the employment of the Mauser clips which were 
available after the Spanish War for experimental 
work in developing the rimless cartridge. A 

21 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 



comparison of the standard Government issue of 
the two cartridges is as follows : 




Krag 



Length of barrel, inches 

Diameter of bore, inches 

Weight of bullet, grains 

Powder charge, grains 

Primer 

Muzzle velocity, foot-seconds 

Breech pressure, pounds per square inch 
Remaining energy at 100 yards, foot- 
pounds 



30 

.30 

220 

36.5 

N.M. 

1,980 

39,000 

1,553 



Both cartridges lack the necessary energy to 
bring them up to our required standard of 2,500 
foot-pounds at 100 yards. We can, however, do 
so by increasing the powder charge and using one 
of the more progressive types of powder. 

If we increase the velocity of the 150-grain 
bullet to 3,000 feet per second, we will obtain the 
necessary energy and the not undue pressure of 
56,000 pounds at the breech. But this method 
does not give us the sustained energy; besides, 
the bullet is too light to convey the increased 
power; it breaks up too quickly on impact and, 
with the increased velocity, is more erratic in its 
flight. 

However, if we load the Springfield cartridge 
with the 180-grain bullet and raise the velocity to 
2,700 feet per second, we obtain the muzzle en- 

22 



GAME RIFLES 

ergy of over 2,900 foot-pounds and the remain- 
ing energy, at 100 yards, of over 2,500 foot- 
pounds, with an average breech pressure of 
44,000 pounds per square inch. This still re- 
tains for us our desired accuracy, with enough 
weight in the bullet to convey this energy through 
the muscles and bones of the animal and deliver 
the shock to the vital parts. 

Theoretically, with an increase of weight and 
length in the bullet, we should employ a quicker 
twist to prevent stripping or cross-riding the 
lands; with the very imperfectly made bullets 
which were first issued with the Krag an ex- 
tremely quick twist was found to give more ac- 
curacy. Some of the Palma Match rifles were 
made one turn in 8% inches, but it was found 
that with a more perfect jacket and a harder 
core of lead or alloy to the bullet, a slower twist 
was fully as accurate. 

One of even one turn in 14 inches is amply 
sufficient to spin the 180-grain Springfield bullet 
true on its longer axis up to 1,200 yards. In 
this country we have followed this theory in spe- 
cial long range barrels for years, merely increas- 
ing the number of lands and decreasing their 
width to give more holding surface to the bore of 

23 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

the rifle. An instance occurred some years ago 
at one of our arsenals which demonstrated the 
above. A rifling machine had by accident been 
boring an 11%-inch twist and in the renovating 
of the machine-shop the set of the cutter on that 
particular machine was painted over and the error 
remained unnoticed, but the men who were test- 
ing the rifles on the range noticed that the barrels 
from this certain machine made better groups 
than those from the others. On investigation, 
the cause was found as above and the machine 
again set for the regulation twist, one turn in 
ten inches. A fine example of progressiveness. 

Only recently in the development of a new 303 
cartridge by the British Government, it has been 
found that with a bullet of 175 grains in weight 
and a muzzle velocity of some 2,800 foot-seconds, 
a twist of one turn in fourteen inches shows de- 
cided superiority over the quicker one. 

With a 14 -inch twist, we find that the drift is 
less than with a quicker ten-inch one, and there- 
fore requires less allowance than the regulation 
barrel. This difference in drift, however, is prac- 
tically negligible at all sporting ranges of under 
500 yards. 

Another fact that came to light in regard to the 
24. 



GAME RIFLES 

drift of the Krag rifle was this: in one of the 
arsenals, while the rifles were being assembled, 
the action was clamped in a vise and the screw 
of the upper band was set home with the muzzle 
of the barrel unsupported. This evidently gave 
a set to the barrel, for when the proper support 
for the muzzle was used, much of the mysterious 
drift disappeared. 





FIGURE 10. POPE'S LATEST FORM OF 80-CALIBER LONG-RANGE 

RIFLING 

The very best form of rifling is that employed 
by Pope; a modified ratchet multi-groove with 
relief on the back or non-driving side of the land, 
the edges of the lands and the corners of the 
grooves slightly rounded to relieve the strain on 
the metal jacket of the bullet. This also facili- 
tates cleaning. Then, too, the number of lands 
should be increased practically in direct ratio to 
the decrease in width, so that with a six-groove 

£5 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

barrel the width of the land should be one-sixth 
of the width of the groove. 

Another point to be considered is the diameter 
of the bullet. The late F. W. Mann clearly dem- 
onstrated the superior qualities of a bullet of bore 
diameter for accuracy. This was, however, 
more marked with lead bullets, which upset 
readily and more quickly formed a gas check, 
than bullets with the metal jacket. The theory 
has been carried out in the bullet used for Schuet- 
zen rifles 32/40 and 38/55 caliber with the base 
band, the diameter of the grooves and the for- 
ward bands of land diameter, known as the two- 
cylinder bullet. 

There has recently been designed a metal- 
jacketed bullet which fulfills these requirements 
and merely utilizes the lesson learned many 
years ago as to the composition of the filling or 
core of the bullet. Two different alloys of lead 
are used, the one at the base pure lead or very 
soft alloy; with this core we automatically get 
base expansion by the pressure of the discharge, 
which in turn is transmitted to the metal jacket. 
Thus we have a metal-jacketed bullet of the two- 
cylinder type made automatically upon firing. 

Pope, in his very latest long-range high-veloc- 



GAME RIFLES 



ity barrels, has rifled them in such a way that 
the axial sectional area of the bore will equal the 
axial sectional area of the bullet. This gives a 
much less distorted base to the bullet than when 
it is of groove diameter and also does away with 

COPPER NICKEL JACKET 
ASBESTOS DISC 

PURE LEAD BASE TO CORE 

ALLOY OF TIN AND LEAD 
I TO 10 

CORE 



LONG ORGIVE POINT 
9 DIAM. 

FIGURE 11. 30-CALIBER BULLET WITH EXPANDING BASE 

much of the displacement of the jacket caused 
by the deep engraving of the lands. 

A word as to the theory. If we take a bullet 
of exactly groove diameter and force it through 
the barrel from breech to muzzle, we displace the 
amount of metal occupied by the lands and get 
elongation of our bullet. In as much as the bul- 
let is forced to the muzzle by pressure from the 
rear, just so much will the base be deformed, 
leaving a ragged or saw-like edge. Now, once 

27 




SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

more referring to the Mann experiments, we find 
that even marked mutilation of the forward part 
of the bullet has little or no effect on accuracy, 
while a very slight deformation of the base, such 





FIGURE 12. BASE OF 30-CALIBER BULLET SHOWING DEFORMA- 
TION CAUSED BY LANDS 

as filing the almost infinitesimal amount of three 
grains from one edge of the base, was immedi- 
ately observed in the groups obtained. 

Now, if we force a bullet of axial sectional di- 
mension equal to the bore through the rifle bar- 
rel, we will fill the grooves •with the metal dis- 
placed by the lands, the amount so displaced 
equaling the difference between the diameter of 
the bullet and the groove diameter. 

Likewise, if we make the driving edges and 
the back edges of the lands slightly rounded as 
well as the corners of the grooves, we will facili- 
tate this filling of the rifling by the bullet, while 
by multiplying the number of lands, we will pre- 
vent stripping by increase of torque and so im- 

28 



GAME RIFLES 



part a more definite twist to the bullet; we also 
save wear and tear on the barrel ; then, too, with 
this reduction of twist, we obtain increased 
velocity. 



CHAPTER III 

TARGET RIFLES 

For the target gun, pure and simple, we have a 
distinctly original type, generally known as the 
Schuetzen rifle, weighing about 12 to 14 pounds, 
generally fitted with double set trigger, palm 
rest, and fine target sights or telescopic sight. 
Once more we must turn to Pope for almost per- 
fect work in this line. His barrels are generally 
made with eight grooves and regulated for the 22- 
short cartridge up to 50 yards. Really wonder- 
ful groups have been obtained and the general 
rule seems to be that for center groups the 22 
will give about one-third the accuracy within its 
range of 50 yards as do the more perfect target 
weapons of 32/40 and 38/55 caliber. This is 
truly marvelous considering the almost minute 
charge of powder in the tiny bullet. 

With the 22 long-rifle cartridge of very recent 
issue we find much to be desired, for with the in- 
crease of velocity beyond 1,000 feet per second, 
we obtain several wild shots with unaccountable 

30 









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TARGET RIFLES 

dispersion out of each group of 20 or more. If 
the cartridge companies would make a bullet of 
45 grains with a velocity of 1,000 feet per second 
and muzzle energy of 100 foot-pounds, we would 
have a more stable ballistic coefficient with really 
good scoring qualities. The increase of five 
grains weight of the bullet would allow it to be 
made of two diameters and a shoulder just back 
of the ogive head which would act as a target 
punch and make the shot holes more readily and 
easily counted. 

A brief specification of the modern target rifle 
is as follows: 

Cartridge. — 22 short, 3 grains powder, 30-grain lubri- 
cated bullet. 

Length of barrel. — 28 or 30 inches, round No. 3 or 4, 
no rear sight slot. 

Bore. — .2219, depth of grooves .0025, diameter of 
grooves .2234. 

Rifling. — 8 grooves, one turn in 25 inches. 

Action.- — Winchester Single Shot No. 2, heavier pat- 
tern. 

Trigger. — Double-set Schuetzen. 

Trigger guard. — Double spur pattern. 

Stock. — Fancy walnut checked; with cheek piece; high 
comb and pistol grip ; Schuetzen pattern, or Swiss 
butt plate; fore end checked, with detachable ad- 
justable palm rest placed at balance of the gun. 

Sights. — Rear, Lyman vernier with wind gauge No. 
103, small or Stevens orthoptic disk; front, globe 
31 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

with peep and aperture disks, interchangeable with- 
out wind gauge; telescopic, No. 5- A Winchester 
with new pattern rear mount graduated in one- 
half minute reading, base blocks placed on barrel 
7.2 inches apart and ground true and level. 
Weight. — 12 to 14 pounds. 





FIGURE 14 (LEFT). LYMAN NO. 103 PEEP REAR SIGHT 

WITH WIND GAUGE 

FIGURE 15 (RIGHT). POPE PEEP REAR SIGHT WITH WIND 

GAUGE 

For use as a mid-range target rifle the speci- 
fications apply, save for a barrel of 30 inches in 
length taking 32/40 or 38/55 cartridge and a 
more accurate rear Vernier sight of the Soule or 
Pope pattern, the barrel preferably a No. 4 and 
hand made by one of our best makers, Pope, 
Zichang or Petersen. Personally, I consider 
Pope's barrels unsurpassed, while for the quality 
of workmanship his prices are very reasonable. 
It is really marvelous how he can turn out bar- 
rels bored to within 1 /10,000th s of an inch, as his 
barrels are in the hands of practically every noted 
off-hand shot in the United States. With his 

82 



TARGET RIFLES 




FIGURE 16. SOULE PEEP REAR SIGHT WITH WIND GAUGH 



permission I have added as Appendix II a de- 
scription of his work and methods of rifling which 
was published by him in 1896, and also his latest 

33 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

instructions for the use and care of his target 
barrels. 

Mr. Pope has also kindly allowed me to publish 
a photograph of his famous "Dog Fight Gun," 
so called from its disreputable looks externally, 
but with one of the finest 22-caliber barrel bor- 
ings I have ever seen, and the diagram he has 
made with it, which speak for its reputation. 

Unfortunately really fine and accurate shoot- 
ing with the rifle at shorter ranges has not flour- 
ished of late years, but its place has been taken 
by 22-caliber practice with the military type of 
weapon, fostered by and under the management 
of the National Rifle Association. While this 
form of shooting has many undoubted advan- 
tages, I doubt if its benefits will endure unless 
very stringent rules are made and enforced in the 
various matches. 

Then, too, there seems to be a desire on the part 
of certain officials to encourage the number of 
scores made, and not the quality thereof. It is 
all very well to shoot a reduced-range course de- 
signed to promote the popularity of the sport, 
but we must remember that in doing so we sac- 
rifice that painstaking care and concentration of 
effort necessary for really high-class shooting. 

34 



oo 

A b 




E F 

FIGURE 17. TYPES OF RIFLING, 30-CALIBER RIFLES 

A, U. S. 1903, four grooves; B, U. S. 1903, Pope, five grooves; 

C, U. S. 1898, Pope, eight grooves; D, Winchester, six grooves; 

E, British 1914 Enfield, five grooves; F, German 

Mauser, 1918, four grooves. 

35 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

It seems to me that it would be better thoroughly 
to lay the ground work for future riflemen on 
quality rather than on quantity, and that by en- 
couraging practice in the standing or offhand 
position we would get steadier holding and 
better finger work with the trigger. Very few 
really high-class shots at the target are suc- 
cessful game shots, and the mission of the 22- 
caliber rifle is to give a fair understanding of the 
fundamentals of rifle shooting. It would be of 
great advantage if galleries could be started and 
maintained in the larger cities under proper man- 
agement where instruction could be given to 
civilians for a nominal charge and where matches 
could be shot under standard conditions. I 
doubt if the increase of range in the matches 
advocated by the National Rifle Association to 
200 yards for the 22-caliber will be of benefit. It 
would seem more practical to limit the range to 
50 yards and at that distance to put a premium 
on accurate shooting. The absolute accuracy of 
the small cartridge cannot be depended on beyond 
that range, and with a greater premium on close 
groups we would develop not only better rifles 
and cartridges for this caliber, but more accurate 
holding and care. 




FIGURE 19. GROUPS SHOT BY POPE WITH HIS "DOG FIGHT 
GUN." REDUCED ONE-HALF 

Left, two 10-shot groups, machine rest, at 50 feet, 22-short 

cartridges. Right, three groups of five shots each, at 50 feet, 

telescope and rest, 22-short cartridges. 



TARGET RIFLES 

For very fine work the accompanying dia- 
grams (Figure 20) made with a 22-short target 
rifle will give an idea of the capabilities of this arm. 

When we come to the longer ranges of 100 and 
200 yards, we find that the group diameters of 
the 22 are nearly three times as great as those 
made by the 32/40 and the 38/55, while between 
the two latter the only advantage with the larger 
gun is in the diameter of the bullet; the 38 will 
cut closer to the center but is more difficult to 
shoot on account of the greater recoil. 

While it is not possible for all lovers of rifle 
shooting to get away after big game, and long 
range work is necessarily restricted to ranges 
situated at some distance from our cities, never- 
theless, one may indulge in short range 22-caliber 
work practically anywhere. Also one may prac- 
tice in 100 and 200 yard shooting with lead bul- 
lets in populated areas, as there is little danger of 
the bullets traveling too far; besides, their pene- 
tration is easily stopped with ordinary backing. 

Then, too, the cost of ammunition is so very 
materially reduced as to make it an item, for even 
with the present high prices, 32/40 loads and 
bullets will cost less than $12.00 per 1,000 with 
homemade bullets. 

87 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

So much can be learned in target work at mod- 
erate ranges with lower-velocity cartridges like 
the above, and at the same time the cost in am- 
munition minimized, that more should be done to 
foster this style of shooting. Since the lessons 
learned on the range can be put into practice 
against game or in military service, it seems to be 
worthy of more attention from the powers that 
be. 




figure 20. groups of five shot at 50 feet with 22 

short target rifle, 30-inch pope barrel, ballard 

action, winchester special tettler 

ammunition; reduced one-half 

The four lower groups were shot on Saturday, February 6, 
1920, and the five middle groups on Monday, February 8, all with 
machine rest. The two upper targets also were shot on February 
8, sighted with telescope. Largest group % inch in diameter, 
smallest, 2 % inch. Groups were consecutive on each day. Six 
out of the nine lower groups were less than % inch in diameter ; 
13, 1, 3, and 5 are the best, and may be taken as 
the standard of possible excellence. 



CHAPTER IV 

ACTIONS 

The breech mechanism by which the barrel is 
connected with the stock and the cartridge held 
in place and the primer exploded, may be divided 
into three classes : 

(1) Falling or sliding block actuated by a 
lever below the trigger guard. These are gen- 
erally seen on our American single-shot and re- 
peating rifles. 

(2) Bolt actions depending on an interrupted 
screw thread to force the cartridge forward into 
the chamber of the barrel. 

(3) Snap or spring action which holds the bar- 
rel down against the face of the breech by the 
spring actuated bolt. 

The two latter actions are mainly used in mili- 
tary rifles and in double express rifles. 

The automatic action actuated either by gas or 
recoil is not as accurate, owing to the necessity 
of a loosely fitted cartridge to facilitate its func- 
tioning, as either the bolt or lever action, nor is 

39 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

it as certain, since it is dependent entirely upon 
a spring to close the breech for firing. Up to 
the present time it is not considered suitable or 
dependable enough for game shooting. 

The theory that resistance in direct line with 
the axis of the bore is superior in the development 
of accuracy has been admirably proved by Dr. 
Mann in his experiments with concentric action in 
connection with his V rest. The remarkable 
showing of nearly all military arms with bolt 
actions sustains this. The fact remains that all 
actions, functioned by a lever applied from a dif- 
ferent point than that of the axis of the bore, will, 
upon the action of the exploded cartridge, force 
back a certain amount against the lever ; thus the 
cartridge will not be held immovable while firing. 

Probably the simplest and most effective bolt 
action ever introduced was the Mauser ; our own 
service gun is simply a Mauser modified by our 
Ordnance Board. 

There is no interrupted screw that can compare 
in simplicity with the two heavy locking lugs on 
the bolt head of the Mauser, and no straight pull 
action can equal the direct force applied by the 
bolt handle to rotate the bolt and to start 
the extraction of the fired case. The action is 

40 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

positive and there are no spiral channels to di- 
vert the force applied. The weakest point is the 
junction of the bolt with the breech end of the 
barrel, especially with the rimless cartridge, and 
this requires binding down force strongly ap- 
plied to force the cartridge home. 

It is my opinion that the cone-shaped bolt 
well at the breech of our Springfield barrel is not 
so strong as the regular Mauser square shoulder, 
and with a defective cartridge it is more likely 
to allow a blow back of gas past the bolt head. 

Another point in both Springfield and Mauser 
actions which might well be improved is the 
magazine feed plate, which is liable at times to 
become canted in the magazine well proper and 
to jam, especially if bullets seated longer than 
the regulation are used. 

In the Springfield we have an elongated firing 
pin head, useful only to let the firing pin down 
and to cock by hand, which are methods not even 
prescribed in our Manual. 

The value of the cut-off is nil in field work, 
and I have known many instances of its being 
accidentally turned down during hasty loading 
in rapid fire ; it might better be made reversed in 
its action. 

42 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

The claims for rapidity of fire advanced for 
the lever action have not been sustained to any 
extent ; the ordinary man can shoot the bolt action 
fully as quickly as the lever, and he can shoot 
both much too quickly for all practical purposes. 
There is no use in an exhibition of fireworks 
and no game has yet been killed by noise 
alone. 

The fact that the more firmly and more solidly 
the cartridge is held in the chamber, and the more 
homogeneous the barrel and action, just so much 
more accurate will be the shot, is indisputable. 
Take the old muzzle loaders; even to-day, with 
all the improvements, I doubt if a really good 
weapon of that type is greatly excelled in ac- 
curacy by our very best breech loaders. So the 
nearer we can make breech and barrels one, the 
surer we are of introducing the bullet to the 
rifling in a balanced manner with the two axes 
coincident. The Pope barrels which load from 
the muzzle practically seat the bullets thus auto- 
matically, and, inasmuch as the bullet is already 
seated with coincident axis in the bore of the rifle, 
the function of the cartridge is merely to give the 
impulse to the bullet. No matter how great the 
advantage of this system for accuracy, it is im- 

44 



ACTIONS 

practicable for field use ; so we must trust to the 
cartridge to hold the bullet in proper position 
to take the rifling. This, too, is an argument in 
favor of the bolt action, as the cartridge is merely- 
shoved forward from the top of the magazine, not 
tilted into the chamber, and so there is less chance 
of eccentric position of the cartridge; further- 
more, the chamber may be made of closer fit than 
the lever action gun. 

This trouble in tilting the cartridge is most 
noticeable in the 22-caliber, repeating rifles, 
handling the 22-long-rifle cartridge, which are 
notably inaccurate in this function and are given 
to jamming or cutting the point of the bullet 
against the rear end of the chamber, which is 
almost entirely absent in the more modern 22-bolt 
action repeaters with straight feed from magazine 
to chamber. 

The same fault may be found with all lever 
action repeaters but is not so much in evidence 
with those having magazines with revolving feed, 
and, to a certain extent is present with the bolt 
action guns with a vertical spring feed, but is 
again reduced in single loading by having a fairly 
long travel of the bolt, not permitting the ex- 
tractor to engage the cartridge head firmly until 

45 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

the cartridge has already been inserted into the 
chamber. 

For the heaviest rifles the old under-lever screw 
grip is, I think, preferable, as it combines great 
binding down power on the lugs of the barrel, 
together with force enough to close the action 
on a cartridge with a thick head, which, combined 
with a wedge projection on the extension of the 
rib against which is forced another wedge, makes 
the gun practically immovable against even the 
heaviest charges. 

The contention that bolt action rifles are af- 
fected by sand or ice is entirely unfounded, for 
one has only to observe the various military tests 
to see that under the most trying test, sand and 
rust, the actions hold up. 

As regards safety bolts, there is only one piece 
of advice for rifles against heavy game. They 
should be positive and not automatic, for any 
safety device that must be prepared for each shot 
only makes one more motion which, in the excite- 
ment of the moment, may be overlooked with dis- 
astrous results. In regard to the cut-off on re- 
peating rifles, for use in the field, they are not 
of value and should be turned on and kept so. 

As regards trigger pulls each man has his 
46 



ACTIONS 

own idea, but a safe rule is not to have them too 
light and, for sporting purposes, all drag creep 
or double pull should be eliminated. Above all, 
they must be crisp and clean — personally, I find 
a pull of two to two and one-half pounds about 
right, while with double rifles the left trigger 
should pull V/2 to two pounds heavier than the 
right, both because there is danger of jarring off 
the second barrel and because with a heavy rifle, 
after the recoil of the first shot, it is held harder 
and therefore more force is likely to be expended 
unknowingly on the trigger. 

Purdey has a very good intercepting block 
actuated by the pull of the trigger of each bar- 
rel to cross and intercept the trigger of the barrel 
not in use. This makes it impossible to fire both 
barrels at once, — a very good thing to avoid, 
especially with a heavy elephant rifle. 

The triggers themselves should be checked to 
prevent the finger slipping, — a common occur- 
rence in the tropics through rain, sweat or other 
causes. 

Ejecting mechanism for double rifles is only 
adding another pair of locks to the gun and is apt 
to get out of order and needs timing and regulat- 
ing. The less complicated the action is the more 

m 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

likely it is not to break down and there is just so 
much less repair. The speed of loading hardly 
counts as one generally uses two guns against 
the heaviest game. 

Another hint with heavy rifles : Have the rear 
end of the forward sling lug slanted. This will 
prevent the recoil cutting the forefinger of left 
hand. For the same reason the tang portion of 
the trigger guard should be well sloped to the rear 
to prevent cutting the middle finger of the right 
hand on recoil. 



CHAPTER V 

STOCKS 

Undoubtedly the very best wood for gun or 
rifle stocks is that known as English or Circassian 
walnut. It is difficult to obtain really good 
blocks with suitable grain. The American black 
walnut, with plain straight grain is very good and 
tough but in the varieties showing fine figure is 
apt to be too heavy, while the Italian species is 
shorter in the grain and still heavier. 

The grain of a stock should run very straight 
through the small of the stock, as a cross grain 
is likely to split and break easily. The accom- 
panying figure of a block will illustrate what is 
required as to grain. 

It is a good plan to have your gun maker 
smooth and oil one or both sides of the blocks 
from which you choose your stock, as the charac- 
ter of the wood is more clearly seen. 

The wood blocks should be thoroughly seasoned 
and it is well to oil them from time to time. Any 
blocks with shakes or cracks should be discarded. 

49 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

Before having the stock made, one should be 
fitted by a try gun with adjustable comb, heel 
plate and small of stock, and the rough measure- 




FIGURE 23. BLOCK FOR STOCK SHOWING STRAIGHT GRAIN 

ments taken. It is of the greatest importance, 
especially for heavy rifles, for use against danger- 
ous game, that the weapon should come up with 




CofPG 

FIGURE 24. STOCK MEASUREMENTS 



the sights in line with the eye, for it will make a 
quick shot easier and will not force the shooter to 
move his head to locate the front sight in the cen- 
ter of the rear. The rough measurements for a 
sporting stock of a Springfield rifle to be used 

50 



STOCKS 

by an average man of, say, 5 feet, 10 inch height, 
are as follows : 

From trigger to center of butt, 13% inches. 

From trigger to toe of butt, 14^ inches. 

From trigger to heel of butt, 14 inches. 

Drop from axis of bore to heel of butt, 1% inches. 

Drop from axis of bore to comb of stock, 1^4 inches. 

Circumference of pistol grip at smallest part, 4 to 
4^ inches. 

Length from trigger to inside of pistol grip cap, 
4% inches. 

The pistol grip should be well curved and not too 
short, as are most of our rifle models. 

The cast off or bend of stock from axis of bore to 
vertical center of butt at heel, ^ inch; at toe, % inch. 

The inside of butt should be well rounded or cham- 
fered to conform with the slope of the chest muscles. 

I purposely use as the standard of measure- 
ment the axis of the bore, as it is very easily de- 
termined by running a patch through the bore to 
the muzzle on a steel cleaning rod and allowing 
the butt of the rod to extend back from the breech. 
As to the use of cheek piece on the stock, I can 
see no real necessity for it if the comb is properly 
made to fit the shooter's face, — possibly it may 
be of advantage if the shooter has a very long and 
thin face. 

The question of butt plate is, I think, best an- 
swered by the use to which the rifle is to be put. 

51 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

If it is to serve as a walking cane, alpenstock or 
support for a tent, then have it of steel, by all 
means — and solid likewise — but if the gun is to be 
used to shoot with, a solid butt plate of thin steel 
fulfills all requirements. In the case of heavy 
rifles a rubber recoil butt is usually fitted and this 
undoubtedly saves the shoulder in snap shots 
when the rifle is not placed in the right spot. As 
to the hollow butt plate, with trap and recess for 
cleaning rod, they are worse than useless, allow- 
ing water to get not only to the implements car- 
ried, but to the interior of the stock — besides, 
there is usually a rattle of the loose contraptions 
in the butt. If spare parts have to be carried 
in the rifle, the best place I know of is to have a 
hole bored under the butt plate, just fitting the 
spares; then wrap them in wax paper and fill the 
cavity with a stiff mixture of beeswax and tallow 
and replace the butt plate. This plan is espe- 
cially good for spare front sights of which two 
should be carried with their pins under the pistol 
grip cap. Your gun-bearers and boys will not 
then be tempted to take them out and probably 
lose them. 

As regards the shape of the butt, it should be 
coarsely checked and shaped to the shoulder with 

52 



STOCKS 

sufficient curve in the center to keep the rifle from 
slipping down. 

The checking of the pistol grip and fore-hand 
should be as small as possible and yet give a firm 
grasp. The diamond-top shallow check is un- 
doubtedly the neatest, but it is a very difficult 
method of checking; the smaller checker of the 
pattern usually seen on Winchester rifles fulfills 
all requirements. The plainer and smaller the 
amount of cutting on the exterior of the stock 
the better. Stocks should be well soaked in oil 
before they are finally finished, and it is a good 
plan to have your gun maker submit the gun for 
your inspection and trial before the checking is 
done. Any small alterations may be made at 
that time. When the barrel and action are fitted, 
it is a good plan to have the edges of the metal 
and interior of the stock coated with beeswax, — 
thus insuring a waterproof joint. 

As to the use of slings on a sporting rifle, they 
are generally employed for purposes of carry- 
ing and very rarely for shooting, unless for long 
and deliberate shots. For this reason, the mili- 
tary sling with double loops is merely a useless 
amount of leather. A plain single strap at- 
tached by studs to the loops on the rifle, with 

53 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

buckle to regulate it, is best. The best mode of 
employment is to hold rifle, sights up, by small of 
stock in right hand, sling loose, pass left arm 
through space between rifle and sling to the right ; 
then under sling strap to left and grasp rifle at 
fore end. 

If the length of strap is properly regulated, this 
will give all the support necessary and at the same 
time can be quickly disengaged. The use of loops 




FIGURE 25. SCREW FROM CAP OF PISTOL GRIP TO TANG STRAP 
TO STRENGTHEN SMALL OF THE STOCK 

on the stock and either fore-end or barrel is ad- 
visable, as they cause no rattle. The sling strap 
should be broad — not less than one inch wide — 
so that it will not cut the arm or shoulder when 
in use. 

A good method of strengthening the stock con- 
siderably at its weakest point, the grip, is to have 
the tang of the action made long enough to ex- 
tend to the rear over the top of the comb and have 
the screw of the cap of the pistol grip made long 

54 



STOCKS 

enough to screw upwards through the stock into 
the tang. Newton rifles have this feature, as do 
also many English expresses intended for rough 
work. 

The section of the pistol grip should be slightly 
diamond or egg-shaped to prevent the rotating 
of the gun in the hand. 



CHAPTER VI 

SIGHTS 

The object of sights is to enable the rifleman to 
point the barrel in a proper direction to hit the 
object aimed at. Furthermore, by a change both 
laterally and vertically, he may allow for the 
variation of the compound curve of trajectory 
caused by gravity and wind. 

Therefore, the essentials of the sights are that 
they may be raised or lowered, and moved to 
either side a definite amount to allow for such 
variations. This adjustment is generally made 
on rear sight. 

The rear sight is usually made in one of two 
forms, open or peep, while the front sight ordi- 
narily in two ; but, admitting of three, there may 
be post, aperture, and globe. 

If we take the rear open sight, we may again 
divide it into two forms, the bar and V, which 
may be combined or simple. Now as to the mer- 
its of these forms, there are many advocates for 
each, but the combinations are so great that, when 

56 



SIGHTS 



all is said and done, we may as well confine our re- 
marks to the simpler ones (see Figure 26). 



B 




D E F 

FIGURE 26. TYPES OP BAR SIGHTS 

A. Simplest form straight bar. Difficulty in 
finding exact center. 

B. Bar with U indicating center. Better than 
A but unreliable, unless used in conjunc- 
tion with a bead or globe front sight. 

C. Bar with V indicating center. Should be 
used with barleycorn front sight. 

D. With inlaid line of light-colored metal or 
ivory. Should be used with an ivory or 
gold bead front sight. 

E. With one-half diamond of light metal or 
ivory. Should be used preferably with a 
coarse ivory bead or Jack front sight. 

F. With square notch to be used with a square 
top sight of proper dimensions. 

Now A, D, and E are of the same base and 
form; the advantages of D and E rest in the fact 

57 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

that the lines indicate the center of bar. B, C, 
and F have the center of the bar plainly marked, 
but with B and C it would be difficult to center 
the front sight exactly in the notch. Taking the 
simplest form of front sight, a post, with B we 



H I 

FIGURE 27. BAD COMBINATIONS OF SIGHTS 

have H, the judgment of exact center dependent 
upon the accurate judgment of the two segments 
and a rectangle, rather difficult on account of 
curves and hard to keep vertically perfect. 

With C, we have the judgment of two triangles 
and a rectangle, I, open to the same objections as 
B. With F, we have the judgment of two rec- 
tangles, J, which is simpler, especially if we have 




J K L 

FIGURE 28. GOOD COMBINATIONS OF SIGHTS 

the square notch made three times the appar- 
ent width of the front sight, for we then can com- 
pare three equal rectangles and be reasonably 
certain of getting the same elevation and lateral 
each time. Likewise, if we should employ with 

58 



SIGHTS 



rear sight C a front sight similar to the barleycorn 
on English service rifles, we will have three trian- 
gles to compare, K, or three similar figures; if 
with rear B sight we use a globe or pin-head front 




P Q 

FIGURE 29. UNDESIRABLE COMBINATIONS OF SIGHTS 

sight, we obtain L, a semi-circle above the 
bar, and by seeing a very thin rim of white be- 
tween the globe and the bottom of the U, keep a 
definite amount of front sight. Use any of these 







12 3 4 

FIGURE SO. FRONT OPEN SIGHTS IN GENERAL USE: 1, POST; 
2, BARLEYCORN J 3, BEAD ', 4, APERTURE 

three front sights with the plain bar A, or its 
modified forms D and E, in which case we will 
have the combinations shown in Figure 29, all of 
which are untrustworthy unless we have the cen- 

59 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

ter defined as in forms D and E. And even 
then we cannot be sure of taking the same 
amount of front sight each time, unless we use 
the globe shape. 





FIGURE 81. FRONT GLOBE TARGET SIGHT, WITH SPARE DISK 

These diagrams show conclusively, I think, that 
the shape of the front sight must be a comple- 
ment of the center mark in the rear sight, and 
that we must have some definite means of gaug- 
ing the amount of front sight taken each time. 
If we have a bar sight with square notch or aper- 
ture, three times the apparent width of the square- 
topped front sight, we can get our proper ver- 
tical and lateral allowance nearly every time. 
Add to this that if we make the front sight the 
apparent width of eight inches at 200 yards, and 
the depth of the notch the same, we will have our 
data as follows on regulation 200-yard targets : 

Apparent size of man's head at 200 yards, 8 
inches ; width of shoulders at 200 yards, 24 inches; 
width of front sight = 1 point, 8 inches of 
Springfield, wind at 200 = 8 inches elevation, 

60 



SIGHTS 



which gives us a great many comparative stand- 
ards to help our allowances in shooting, this then 
resolving itself into merely the judgment of 
three rectangles of the same size on each side. 



ESft^l-lLSIfltt 



FIGURE 82. PROPERLY PROPORTIONED SQUARE-TOPPED FRONT 
SIGHT WITH SQUARE REAR NOTCH 

It will therefore be evident that the bar sight 
must have some indication of its center and that 
the most practical shape for the indication is a 
square notch used in conjunction with a square- 
topped post front sight, for all target shooting. 
The objection to this sight is that the bar rear 
sight obscures the major portion of the object 
aimed at, leaving only the exact spot desired to 
hit exposed; and the difficulty of seeing the front 
sight against a black or dark object. Therefore, 
for hunting purposes, the ivory bead front sight 
with bar rear and U notch will be found best. 
So much for the bar sight. The main objection 
is the difficulty of quickly finding the center of 
the bar and the impossibility of getting good defi- 
nition of a dark colored front sight when used 
against a dark background. 

61 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

The alternative form of open rear sight is the 
V. This may be merely an indication of the cen- 
ter of the bar as in C, or it may extend the whole 
width of the bar. The wider and shallower the 




FIGURE 33. FORMS OF V REAR SIGHTS FOR EXPRESS RIFLES 

V, the more difficulty of accurately placing the 
front sight in the center of the notch, and so we 
usually find the rear V sight provided with a 
platinum or ivory line to help in this respect. 
The regulation English express sight, as fur- 
nished by the best gun makers, is a V used with 
a bead front sight with platinum tip. 

I think that one must find out for himself the 
color of front sight most easily distinguished 
against a neutral colored background in a bad 
light and adopt that for his hunting use. In 
England, with military front sights, it is cus- 
tomary on target work to touch the very tip of the 
smoked front sight with either chalk or white 
paint. This, however, necessitates holding into 
the black of the bull, which is not considered good 
practice here. 

My own favorite open sights in the field are 
a broad shallow V with a U notch in the bottom 

62 



SIGHTS 



of the angle, a gold vertical line from the bottom 
of the U to the barrel, used in conjunction with 
a gold bead front sight of small diameter. 



FIGURE 34. AUTHOR'S FAVORITE SIGHT 

This combination enables one to quickly find 
the center of the rear sight and to draw the bead 
closely into the bottom of the U. It shows well 
in jungle or on open ground, and is sufficiently ac- 
curate for short ranges where either small or no 
allowance need be made laterally, which is all 
that is required of a sight when used on heavy ex- 
press rifles where one cannot use the aperture or 
peep sight on account of recoil. 

We now come to the consideration of the peep 
sight. This is far more accurate for use with all 
rifles except very heavily loaded expresses. 

The two functions performed by this sight are, 
first, to act as an orthoptic and cut out all exces- 
sive and superfluous light ; and secondly, to act as 
a circular opening through which to align the 
front sight and objective. The limitations as to 
size are, on one hand, the obscuring of the vision 
by the cutting off of light or lack of illumina- 
tion; on the other, the enlarging of the aperture 

63 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

beyond the point at which the center of illumina- 
tion is distinctly perceptible. 

It may be taken as a general rule that subject 
to the two above limitations, the nearer the eye 
the sight is placed, the more readily can it be used. 
Here, too, we have a limit. The aperture can- 
not be close enough to the eye to injure it in case 




FIGURE 35. TARGET SIGHT SHOWING CONCENTRIC CIRCLES 

of recoil and we must therefore have enough re- 
lief to insure safety. 

Now, inasmuch as we start with the circle, we 
should theoretically continue our sight in the same 
form. This is the best illustrated in the very ac- 
curate target sight used on match rifles in which 
we have circular bull, circular-aperture front 
sight, and circular rear peep sight. Thus we 
have probably the most accurate form of rifle 
sight known — five concentric circles. 

64 



SIGHTS 

Still, as we cannot always shoot at a circular 
mark, we must therefore do away with one of our 
indicators, and when we do this we find that unless 
we have the objective very clearly defined it is ex- 
tremely difficult to place on it the exact center of 
the ring front sight, so we must perforce reduce 
the size of the front sight and make it solid ; then 
we can easily place the globe on the objective, 
preserving, however, the circular form of front 
sight tip. This tip may again be made of some 
different material than <the stem, to show up more 
readily against a dark objective; it is generally 
either of ivory, platinum or gold. Here again 
the shooter must decide for himself which color 
or substance gives the best definition. 

In the case of military rifles the front sight is 
made with a square top which is obviously inferior 
to the circular bead for game shooting, inasmuch 
as it eliminates the advantage of concentric cir- 
cles. We now come to the proper size of aper- 
ture and it may be taken for granted that the 
smaller the aperture, the more accurate the sight; 
but we again run against limitations. We must 
not make the aperture small enough to cut the 
proper illumination of front sight and objective. 
This, too, the shooter must decide for himself, re- 

65 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

membering that the smaller the aperture the more 
time it will take to find the front sight, for we 
lose sight of the objective and front sight while 
the circumference of the rear sight intervenes 
during the act of aligning the sights. 





FIGURE 36. LYMAN REAR PEEP SIGHT WITH CUT RING 

This may be overcome to a degree by cutting 
the periphery of the rear sight in the shape of a 
very narrow V, which enables the shooter to 
see the object at which he is aiming and the front 
sight all the time, until they are both centered 
at the point of greatest illumination, the center 
of the aperture of the rear sight. Now this cut 
in the ring of the rear sight will not interfere with 
the circular effect, inasmuch as when the eye is 

66 



SIGHTS 

focussed on the objective and the front sight, the 
rear sight being then out of focus, the narrow V 
cut will blur or gray over and will still give the 
circular effect. The illumination is also much 
greater and snap shots at dusk are rendered pos- 
sible. 

One fact must be remembered and cannot be 
too strongly emphasized. The shooter must look 
through the aperture of the rear sight as through 
a window. He will find that the front sight will 
be most clearly seen at the point of greatest illum- 
ination, the center of the rear sight aperture, as 
will the objective. For all practical purposes of 
hunting the large aperture of the Lyman sight 
3/32 inches in diameter, placed at a distance of 
not more than 5% inches from the eye, will be 
found about right. 

Another factor in accuracy should not be disre- 
garded, and that is that the greater the distance 
of sight radius the more accurate the aim. 

As to lateral adjustment, most modern aper- 
ture rear sights have a means of so doing with 
micrometer scales, while the open rear sights are 
usually dove-tailed into a slot traverse to the bore 
and may be driven to the right or left, care being 
taken not to mar or injure the sight. 

67 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

Many have a combination of three sights on the 
rifle — front sight, open rear sight and aper- 
ture rear sight. The open sight is unnecessary if 
the aperture rear sight is used and should only 
be employed in case the rear sight is broken or 
bent. If it is placed on the rifle at all it should 
fold down flat on the barrel below the line of sight. 




FIGURE 37' FRONT BEAD SIGHT SHOWING RELIEF OR SLANT 
OF 10 DEGREES ON BEAD 

As to the form of front sight face, it will gen- 
erally be found that the reversed cone filed at an 
angle of about 10° on the top will show best in 
bad lights. This will present the greatest sur- 
face section to the eye and will prevent the radia- 
tion of light at the edge of the sight. 

One must also remember that the edges of the 
rear sight aperture or the edge of the open sight 
should be beveled towards the muzzle, to leave a 
sharp edge for clear definition, without halation, 
next the eye. My own favorite rear sight for use 

68 



SIGHTS 



with the U. S. Rifle 1906, 30-caliber, sporting 
stock, is the Lyman 48 Receiver sight with cut 
large ring and spare disk for target use, with a 
Sheard 1/32 gold-bead front sight. 




FIGURE 38. LYMAN NO. 48 REAR PEEP SIGHT FOR 
SPRINGFIELD 

All front sights should be provided with a pro- 
tector of some sort for they are exposed to many 
a rough knock in the field, and it will save a bent 
sight and a broken ivory or gold bead. 

The pattern of sight protector issued on our 
service rifle is good and the rifle may be used 
with the cover in place in emergency. 

The leather stalking muzzles seen on most best- 
quality English game rifles, while they protect 
the sight and prevent the muzzle from knocks or 
becoming plugged with dirt or snow, are always 
in the way and one cannot shoot until they have 

69 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

been removed, besides adding the risk of a bulged 
or burst barrel if the rifle is fired with the protec- 
tor in place. 

Peep sights mounted on the rear end of bolt or 
cocking piece are not so reliable as those fixed 
solidly on the frame or receiver. 

I have never known one mounted on the bolt to 
stay put for any length of time ; since there must 
be movement and a certain amount of play in the 
bolt, there is of necessity some in the position of 
the sight. Then, too, I have known the aperture 
to be lost through the sleeve rotating on a gun- 
bearer's shoulder. 

It will be seen that the ease of aiming accur- 
ately is dependent on the length of sight radius, 
for if we could prolong the barrel to the objec- 
tive, there would be no trouble in placing our shot 
where we wished. This, of course, is impossible, 
so we must get the longest possible distance be- 
tween front and rear sights, with solid foundation 
for the sights. 

Now, it will generally be found with open 
sights, that the further from the eye the rear 
notch, the more clearly will both front and rear 
sights focus, which, of course, means a short sight 
radius; while with peep sight the nearer the eye 

70 



SIGHTS 

the aperture, the more readily will the shooter ac- 
commodate himself to the theory of looking 
through the sight as through a window, and the 
longer and more accurate will be the sight radius. 
I strongly recommend the use of the peep sight 
with relief enough to insure safety to the eye on 
all save the very heaviest rifles, which are used 
at short range, where the tremendous recoil makes 
it dangerous to use the peep sight mounted on 
the tang. 

Luminous and Night Sights 
Very little satisfaction can be derived from 
night shooting. One is not only at a disadvant- 
age in seeing the game, but even with the best ap- 
pliances and sights, one cannot be sure of hitting 
the animal in the right place. Furthermore, it is 
extremely unsportsmanlike to have wounded 
game about, and with the case of dangerous game 
it may cost some poor devil of a porter his life 
or at least give him a severe mauling. 

An instance of the danger of wounded game 
not followed up and killed is as follows : Three 
men of my acquaintance were shooting on the 
Tana River, British East Africa, some years ago. 
One of the party wounded a rhino, which ran 

71 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

into a thick clump of thorn bushes, and foolishly 
left him. Toward evening another member of 
the party not knowing of the wounded animal 
saw a rhino standing under a tree. He fired at 
the animal and failed to kill it. Unfortunately 
the rhino did not act in the orthodox manner and 
make a straight charge, but chased him as a cat 
would a mouse. His gun-bearer bolted and kept 
firing the second gun at the animal, but of course, 
not hitting it, for natives are notoriously bad 
shots. My friend said one or two bullets came 
dangerously near him. As there was no time to 
reload, he dropped his rifle and started to run in 
a circle, trusting to the tales of a rhino's poor 
eyesight. But this did not work, for every time 
he turned the rhino did likewise. The finish I 
heard from Cunninghame, who was in charge of 
the Safari: 

I heard a great bombardment going on a short 
distance from camp, when one of the porters came 
running up and said the Bwana was being killed 
by a rhino. So I grabbed my 450 and went 
over the rise and saw X some few yards in ad- 
vance of the beast. Every time he turned the 
rhino did also, and in the distance was a wild 

72 



SIGHTS 

gun-bearer waving his arms and giving advice to 
the Bwana who, when he could find a breath, 
cursed him, the bearer. I put a stop to the show 
with a neck shot as the rhino passed me. 

X was pretty badly winded and worried, and 
to this day swears he could feel the horn of the 
rhino behind him. Of course, the gun-bearer got 
Kiboko. This only serves to show what may 
happen in broad daylight. 

My advice to all sportsmen in regard to night 
shooting is "Don't try it," but if it is necessary, 
these are one or two dodges which may prove use- 
ful. 





FIGURE 39. GLOAMING OR NIGHT SIGHTS 

I have found all luminous sights and head lights 
worthless. At night a large white bead front 
sight, which may be slipped over the ordinary one, 
or which turns up, as in the Gloaming sight, is 
fairly visible if a large Lyman aperture rear sight 
be used. When it becomes too dark to see that, 
a narrow strip of adhesive plaster, well chalked 
and fastened to the rib of the barrels or to the 

73 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

barrel itself, will catch all reflected rays and will 
give a good general idea of the direction of the 
gun for close shots. 

Jack lights and electric flash lights are useless. 
If you must shoot after dark, a white magnesium 
flare or Costen light ignited by a cap and held in 
a torch handle or signal pistol will illuminate the 
nearer objects for sufficient time to see to shoot. 
Remember always to have your gun-bearer hold 
the flare back of you and above your head. You 
will then see not only what you are shooting at but 
your sights as well. 

Telescopic sights are practically useless in the 
field. In the first place the mountings are deli- 
cate and the proper adjustment takes time, which 
is impossible unless a very deliberate shot is at 
hand. 

True, the objective is enlarged, but so are all 
intervening objects. Then, too, the illumination 
is cut down if the scope be of any power over three 
diameters, and unless the field or portion of the 
landscape covered by the glass be large, one is 
constantly losing the objective and having to re- 
sight. 

Take the records of long range shooting here 
in America, and we find that under all conditions 

74 



SIGHTS 

of weather, light, etc., plain iron sights have al- 
ways beaten out the telescopic ones. The excep- 
tion is, I believe, in the Wimbledon Cup Match, 
which was won twice with telescopic sights. This 
match is 20 shots at 1,000 yards, and if there 
were any great advantage in magnifying sights, 
more would have been successful in the 30 odd 
years of competition. 

Another very good instance where the tele- 
scopic sight did not make good was in the Her- 
rick Trophy Match, 1909, at Camp Perry, Ohio. 
The conditions were : Teams of eight men — fir- 
ing 15 shots each at 800, 900, and 1,000 yards — 
same conditions as the Elcho Shield Match in 
England. 

There were some 60 teams entered and as any 
rifle, any ammunition, and any sights were per- 
mitted, it was a good test of accuracy of ma- 
terial. 

At the final stage of the match, 1,000 yards — 
about 5 p. m., most of the teams had finished 
their scores, when a rather difficult condition of 
mirage occurred. 

The Ohio team, shooting special Krag barrels 
made by Winchester with Vernier sights and spe- 
cial ammunition with the 190-grain bullet, fin- 

75 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

ished with a score of 1,696 points. The Marine 
Corps team, shooting U. S. '06 Springfield rifles 
fitted with full length scopes and using the 180- 
grain bullet, made 1,694 points. 

The Massachusetts team had not finished. 
There were still 24 minutes left for the time limit 
of the match. I was between two of my men, 
Captain Allen and Sergeant Kean, both good 
shots, when I saw through my coaching scope — 
a glass of 50 power — the mirage dance and boil 
in a difficult way at the targets, and both scored 
high threes. I told both men to wait and not to 
look towards the targets. Minute after minute 
passed until only 12 minutes were left for the 14 
final shots. Suddenly the mirage lifted and al- 
most perfect conditions prevailed, when I told 
both men to raise their sights slightly and to fire. 
The result was a wonderful finish, 12 bulls in the 
14 remaining shots, in 10 minutes, making a score 
of 1,700 out of 1,800 and winning the match. 
The Massachusetts team used service rifles and 
the 150-grain service cartridge, with service sights 
as issued. 

This at that time constituted, I believe, a 
world's record for the distances with the service 
gun and ammunition. Of course, the men were 

76 



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SIGHTS 

wonderfully steady shots, and had been well 
coached during the previous practice. But it 
goes to show that even under the very conditions 
claimed to be favorable to telescopic sights the 
iron sights showed marked superiority. 

In discussing the match with Captain Harlee, 
the Marine Corps team captain, and with Captain 
Shaw, the captain of the Army team, Captain 
Harlee said that his men had been bothered by the 
flow of mirage seen plainly through the individ- 
ual scopes, and had been made nervous and over- 
anxious, allowing too much for the conditions 
prevailing. 

The above two records should be evidence 
enough that the telescopic sight, in its present 
state of imperfection, is not of any great advan- 
tage even at long range. 

But we do find that for testing ammunition at 
shorter ranges where the elements do not play 
such a prominent part and where the target is 
more distinct, the telescope is of great advantage, 
enabling the shooter to hold in exactly the same 
place each time. This also applies to off-hand 
shooting at 100 and 200 yards. 

The use of iron sights, after one has been using 
a telescope, seems easy, as the error in holding 

77 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

with telescopic sights is magnified by the power 
of the telescope and the ordinary sights seem to 
stand perfectly still. 

The other disadvantage, with a telescope, is 
that unless the barrel of the rifle is covered by 
some insulation the halation of heat therefrom 
causes a boil in the field of vision similar to 
mirage and often causes very erratic shooting 
especially in winter, when the rifle is taken from 
a warm room and shot in the open air. This, 
of course, is easily avoided by covering the for- 
ward part of the barrel with thin asbestos paper 
and wrapping with insulating rubber tape. 

At present there is no really satisfactory scope 
readily procurable. Probably the best commer- 
cial telescopic sight is the Winchester 5 A with 
new-pattern rear and old-pattern front mounts. 
The base blocks, which are permanently attached 
to the barrel, should be placed as far apart as 
the action of the rifle will allow, and a scale made 
of elevations necessary to raise the shot one inch 
at 100 yards should be placed on the micrometer 
mounts. If the blocks are placed 7.2 apart, the 
micrometer elevator for the rear sight will read 
one-half inch for each 100 yards range, as it is 
divided in .005 inch graduations. 

78 



SIGHTS 

There is always trouble in the solid attach- 
ment of the telescope to the barrel, and this has 
been partially overcome by the dove-tail taper 
base advocated by the late F. W. Mann, which 
has this disadvantage, however, that the removal 
of the glass necessitates pounding the delicate 
mounts to the rear with a mallet and wooden 
block. Pope has made a distinct advance in his 
method of mounting by doing away with all in- 
tervening blocks and clamping the front and rear 
scope mounts proper to slots cut on either side 
of the barrel ; but this necessitates really fine work 
in machining and cutting the slots and the adjust- 
ment of the mounts. Telescope in Figure 19 is 
so mounted. 

The best reticules for use with the telescope 
at ordinary targets are the single cross hairs as 
fine as can be made for fine shooting and the post 
or pin head, if practicing, for holding with either 
military or match, iron sights. 

The targets generally used with the cross hair 
sight consist of four target pasters two inches 
in diameter, placed at a distance of two inches 
apart on a white background to form a rectangle, 
while for the post or pin head reticule the ordi- 
nary circular bulls-eye reduced is used. 

79 



SPORTING EIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

Prismatic telescope sights are too heavy and 
are apt to be jarred out of adjustment by the re- 
coil of the rifle, especially those with movable 
cross hairs, and their mounts are extremely diffi- 
cult to attach. 

Many of the telescopes, made by Sidle, Mal- 
colm, McQueen, and Mogg were full-length 
glasses extending the whole length of the rifle 
barrel and extremely cumbersome. The best 
scope I have known was one made by Smith of 
Springfield. It was some 12 inches long, three- 
quarters of an inch in diameter, magnifications of 
10, with extremely fine cross hairs and wonderful 
illumination, in fact, very perfect optically, and 
was mounted in rigid front mount, with adjust- 
able rear mount with micrometer readings, both 
vertically and laterally. 

After having used telescopic sights for many 
years, my conclusion with regard to them is this : 

For all ordinary sporting purposes they are 
worthless, but may be found extremely useful in 
training to hold steadily at short ranges. 

They are expensive and delicate instruments 
with complicated mounts and adjustments and 
are entirely out of place for rough work in jungle 
or forest — fit only for range work and deliberate 
shots. 



CHAPTER VII 

CLEANING 

Residue in rifle barrels may be divided into two 
classes, that left by the bullet and the fouling left 
by the combustion of the powder charge and the 
primer. I do not include rust, which should 
never be present. 

In the case of black powder with rifles using 
lead bullets, the easiest method is to clean thor- 
oughly with hot water and soda on a stiff bristle 
brush or a solution of strong soap and hot water. 
Dry the bore thoroughly, and if no lead is pres- 
ent, give a good coating with some heavy grease 
such as Corol, heavy gas-engine cylinder oil, or 
cosmoline. If, however, lead is present, we must 
resort to chemical means to remove it, and the best 
way is to apply mercury. Mercury forms an 
amalgam with the lead, which in turn is readily 
removed from the barrel with a stiff brush or a 
tight-fitting swab. 

The methods of applying mercury in use are to 
plug the muzzle of the barrel with a tight-fitting 

81 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

cork, pour a small amount of quicksilver into 
the bore, then plug the breech and roll the mer- 
cury up and down the barrel until the lead is 
amalgamated. The mercury may be cleaned by 
straining through chamois skin under pressure 
and used again. Still another way is to coat the 
bore with strong mercurial ointment which will 
form the amalgam; at the same time it is one of 
the best rust preventives known, and may be left 
in the bore until the rifle is used again, when it 
should be thoroughly wiped out, the lead com- 
ing with it. Probably the very best mercurial 
preparation is a mixture of mercury and sodium 
amalgam sold by various dealers under various 
names. It may be obtained from H. M. Pope, 
18 Morris Street, Jersey City, and is called by 
him "Lead Off." Hoppe Nitro Solvent No. 9 
may also be used to clean the powder residue, but 
it will not remove lead as well or as quickly as 
mercury. 

With high-power smokeless rifles using a 
metal- jacketed bullet, we are confronted in our 
Cleaning problem, however, with a very different 
condition of affairs. 

The powder residue is composed of carbon and 
a sticky varnish-like substance of great tenacity, 

82 



CLEANING 

over which residue is smeared a thin covering of 
the metal composing the jacket of the bullet, 
generally an alloy -of copper and nickel known 
as cupro nickel. This metal fouling will resist 
all efforts of ordinary oils and must be chemically 
dissolved or the action of the powder residue be- 
neath, which is slightly acid, due to the nitrated 
cotton or cellulose, combined with that of the 
primer which is very corrosive, will set up more 
or less galvanic action and attack the steel of the 
barrel. Now the simplest solvent of copper is 
ammonia ; so we apply a solution of ammonia and 
its salt to the bore, and when chemical action has 
lissolved the copper overlying the powder residue, 
we pour the ammonia out, thoroughly clean the 
barrels with a chemical to neutralize the action 
of the ammonia on the steel, and proceed to re- 
move the underlying powder fouling with an- 
other solution of oils and the higher ethyls. 
When the work is done, the barrel may safely 
be left without other protection than a heavy 
neutral oil to prevent atmospheric action. This 
sounds rather a formidable process, but in reality 
it takes but a short time, some 30 minutes, to com- 
plete. The following is the best ammonia solu- 
tion I know of: 

83 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

Ammonia persulphate 100 grains 

Ammonia carbonate 50 grains 

Ammonia bichromate 10 grains 

Stronger ammonia 26% 1^2 ounces 

Water % ounce 

The three chemicals should be powdered thor- 
oughly, the ammonia and water then added and 
placed in a tightly corked bottle until needed. 
The above solution should not be kept over 24 
hours, as the ammonia gas escapes and the result- 
ing solution will then attack steel and not dissolve 
the copper readily, although the use of ammonia 
bichromate partially stops the action on steel. 

The best neutralizing agent to remove the 
traces of ammonia from the bore is soda and wa- 
ter or hot water and soap. 

The powder solvent consists of oil mixed with 
either amyl or acetone, or both, and may be made 
as follows: 

Kerosene oil free from acid. ..... 1 ounce 

Refined neatsfoot or Rangoon oil . . % ounces 

Spirits turpentine 1 ounce 

Amyl 1 ounce 

Acetone 1 ounce 

Hoppe's solvent mentioned is practically the 
same as the above; it is sold at all gun stores 
ready for use, and is thoroughly reliable. Corol 

84 



CLEANING 

is a Swiss petroleum jelly of good consistency 
and is used for protective coating. Vaseline free 
from acid and not refined is also a good rust pre- 
ventive, but not so good as mercurial ointment, 
though cleaner to use. Pope was first to use the 
ammonia cleaning methods in this country; al- 
most simultaneously it was introduced in Eng- 
land by the Wood Norton Powder Company. 

The amyl-acetone cleaning solution was first 
mentioned by Laflin and Rand Powder Com- 
pany, who made the W. A. powder formulated by 
Dr. W. G. Hudson, used in the Krag in '91-8. 

The above should be applied to the rifle with 
clean Canton flannel patches, one of two-inch 
diameter will fit a 30-caliber barrel nicely, while 
one of %-inch diameter is about right for a 22. 
They should always be used with a steel or vul- 
canite covered rod, as the above chemicals have 
a corrosive action on brass and are best pushed 
through the bore with a simple knob on the end 
of the rod relieved a short way back; the pat- 
tern advocated by Lieutenant- Colonel Whelen is 
good but should be threaded in the point to take 
a bristle or wire brush, which will be found use- 
ful for removing unburned grains of powder be- 
fore applying the ammonia solution, etc. 

85 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

A brief description of the method of cleaning 
the Springfield rifle may be used to illustrate the 
way to employ the various chemical mixtures 
mentioned. 

As soon after firing as possible the bolt should 
be removed and a bristle brush pushed through 
the bore from the breech to remove the unburned 
grains of powder. This should be followed by a 
dry patch to remove the topmost layer of powder 
fouling and expose the copper of the jacket metal 
in the bore. 

When the weapon is cool and not until then, 
the breech of the barrel should be plugged with 
a rubber cork "No. 00 and a piece of %-inch rub- 
ber tubing about two inches long should be 
slipped over the muzzle; the bore should then be 
filled with the ammonia solution, care being taken 
to see that the liquid comes up above the barrel 
end in the tube and that none is allowed to spill 
over the exterior of the barrel, as it will cause 
rust. The ammonia should be left in the bore for 
15 to 20 minutes, not more, when it should be 
emptied out and the muzzle wiped free from the 
solution; the cork in the breech can then be re- 
moved by a steel cleaning rod, care being taken 
not to scratch the end of the bore at muzzle. A 

86 



CLEANING 

dry patch should then be pushed through the bar- 
rel from the breech, followed by one wet in soda 
water or soap and water, and the bore thoroughly 
dried. Then a patch wet with Hoppe cleaning 
solution should be run through followed by sev- 
eral clean patches, until the patches show no trace 
of black or dirt, when the bore may be well coated 
with Corol or some heavy oil, and safely left. 




FIGURE 41. NEIDNER CLEANER 

The bolt should be wiped with an oily rag and 
the outside of the barrel and stock slightly 
greased, care being taken to be sure and wipe 
with oil all metal parts that have been in contact 
with the hands, as the salt from perspiration will 
quickly cause rust. These cleaning operations 
are greatly facilitated by the use of a supplemen- 
tal chamber which is a hollow tube, the diameter 
of the bore placed in the breech of the rifle in 
place of the bolt, allowing the patches to be read- 
ily centered by the cleaning rod. This device 
is made by Neidner, Maiden, Mass. 

The ammonia container is as follows; it will 
87 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

aid the introduction of the liquid to the bore and 
prevent its spilling over the outside: 

When the rifle is to be cleaned it is stood or 
held in erect position muzzle upward ; the stopper, 
19, is removed from the tubing, 16, and inserted 
into the breech of the gun. The then open lower 
end of the tubing is slipped over the muzzle of 
the rifle with a liquid tight fit, whereby none of 
the liquid ever comes in contact with the outer 
surface of the barrel. The clamp is then 
loosened and with the removal of the stopper, 
15, the liquid, C, flows freely into and fills the 
bore of the rifle, leaving, however, preferably a 
portion of the liquid in the container, which is 
visible to the operator if the walls thereof are 
transparent. The chemical reaction that takes 
place, as a result of the cleansing medium acting 
upon the metallic deposition within the bore, 
gives a blue or other distinctive color to the 
liquid, and, by virtue of the diffusion, imparts 
a similar color to that portion of the liquid ex- 
posed above the tubing. When, according to the 
experience of the gunner, the color of the liquid 
is found to be such as to indicate that the cleans- 
ing action is completed, he inverts the rifle, re- 
moves the stopper, 19, from the breech, and allows 
the liquid to flow back again into and fill the con- 
tainer. The clamp may then be again closed to 

88 




FIGURE 42. AMMONIA CLEANING DEVICE 

89 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

retain the liquid in the container as before and 
the stopper, 19, replaced in the tubing as shown 
in Fig. 42. The gun barrel is then ready to be 
cleaned mechanically as will be well understood. 

The ammonia solution is of a pale canary color 
and is turned green by the absorption of the cop- 
per, and can only be used once. A good oil or 
preservative for stocks and woodwork is Max 
Wax made by Eley Bros., London, and obtain- 
able at most gun shops; or a mixture of linseed 
oil, turpentine and beeswax may be applied to the 
woodwork of the gun which will help to water- 
proof and preserve it. Rifles using cordite, a 
nitro-glycerine powder, should be swabbed after 
cleaning with ammonia, with a solution of alcohol 
and caustic soda, which destroys the acid residue 
in powder fouling. 

In cleaning double rifles and those which can- 
not be filled to the muzzle with ammonia solution, 
a swabbing preparation may be used. This is 
composed of the following chemicals : 

Ammonia persulphate 50 grains 

Ammonia carbonate 25 grains 

Ammonia bichromate 5 grains 

Stronger ammonia 26% ... . 1 ounce 

Glycerine 1 ounce 

90 



CLEANING 

It should be applied on a flannel patch and 
should be repeated several times, and in place of 
using Corol or heavy oil as a rust preventive, 
Hoppe may be employed, leaving the bore thor- 
oughly soaked with it. On cleaning out the bore 
after a few days the patches will be seen to be 
green as the preparation acts on copper but 
slowly. Guns and rifles are kept safest when not 
in use with the hammers down and in their cases, 
and locked with the keys in the owner's posses- 
sion. This will prevent broken firing pins from 
snapping locks, bent front sights, and rusted 
spots from finger marks on the barrels and action. 

Locks are best left alone, but if the gun has 
been wet they should be removed and cleaned with 
a brush and kerosene oil; an old tooth brush an- 
swers well; then they should be dipped in gaso- 
line and wiped dry and the sear tails, triggers, 
tumblers, and working parts should be oiled with 
either refined neatsf oot oil thinned with gasoline, 
or with watchmakers' refined porpoise oil. Care 
should be taken not to apply too much. 

Lock mechanisms, especially in double rifles 
and guns, should be gone over by the maker at 
least once each season, and the trigger pulls regu- 
lated, etc. The interior of the stock in the lock 

91 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

wells may be lightly coated with Max Wax or lin- 
seed oil and turpentine. 

Twenty-two-caliber rifles are best cleaned by 
pushing one or two dry patches through the bore 
from the breech followed by a thorough scrub- 
bing with Hoppe or a bristle brush, then more 
patches should be pushed through until they come 
out clean, — after which the interior of the bore 
should be well filled with some mercurial prepara- 
tion, such as Lead Off or mercurial ointment 
which of course should be wiped off before shoot- 
ing; or if the gun is not to be used for some 
time the cleaning process should be repeated in 
three or four days. 




FIGURE 43. HOT-WATER FUNNEL 

A very good device which is often seen in Eng- 
lish rifle cases consists of an empty cartridge case 
with the head bored out and a funnel attached, 
by means of which boiling water may be poured 

92 



CLEANING 

through the barrel of the rifle ( see Fig. 43 ) . It 
is so simple and the use of hot water so efficient 
in the stopping and preventing of rust that it 
should be in the kit of every rifle man. The off- 
set in the tube enables the cartridge to be inserted 
easily in bolt action guns and facilitates the pour- 
ing of the hot water without spilling. 

Another dodge, which is a great labor saver 
and which is so simple that it is well worth no- 
tice, is to soak a number of patches in hot sal 
soda and water and some more in hot soap suds, 
strong solution, and to dry them; enough soap 
or soda will remain in the Canton flannel so that 
by merely wetting the patch a good alkali solution 
can be introduced in the bore without trouble, 
thus saving the carrying of more chemicals or 
apparatus to the range or on a hunting trip. 



CHAPTER VIII 

BULLETS 

We must realize that each bullet is adapted for 
each particular rifle and take into consideration 
the amount of velocity necessary to be borne, the 
striking energy of the bullet, and the resistance 
of the object hit. 

Primarily, the first attribute of a bullet is ac- 
curacy; the second, is to act as a vehicle of energy 
and to carry the maximum amount of shock de- 
livered by the weapon to the vital organs of the 
animal shot at. We, therefore, must have a bul- 
let of sufficient diameter and length to accommo- 
date itself to the twist of the rifle, as well as of 
hard enough construction to withstand the force 
exerted by the spirals, without stripping across 
the lands. It must still be soft enough to allow 
the lands to engrave easily upon its surface and 
the base to expand to the diameter of the grooves 
of the rifling, in order not to allow any gas to 
escape between the exterior surface of the bullet 
and the walls of the rifle barrel. 

94 



BULLETS 

The general twist used in 22-caliber rifles is 
one turn in 25 inches for the short cartridge and 
one turn in 16 for the long-rifle; depth of the 
grooves are about three-one-thousandths of an 
inch, while the number of grooves varies from 
four to eight. The tendency is to make the lands 
too wide and too few; most commercial 22s have 
four grooves and four lands for easy manufac- 
ture, but I find that six or eight grooves will give 
much better accuracy, especially if the weapon is 
not bored too small, so that the forward portion of 
the bullet may ride on the lands while the ex- 
panded base fills the grooves and acts as gas 
check. The temper of the bullet or the propor- 
tion of lead to tin, upon which depends its hard- 
ness and ductility, is generally about one part 
tin to thirty parts of lead. With the 22 we may 
divide the bullets into two classes : Solid for tar- 
get, and hollow point for game. The weight of 
the 22-long rifle, hollow point, is 35 grains and 
the weight of the solid, as at present manufac- 
tured, is 40 grains; while the lighter bullet has 
slightly greater velocity, it is not so accurate as 
the solid and is, therefore, not so reliable. 

A very simple method of improving the ex- 
pansion and increasing the weight of the hollow- 

95 





SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

pointed bullet is to insert in the cavity of the 
point one or more chilled shot, of the diameter 
of the hole, which helps to expand the forward 
portion of the bullet on impact; it increases the 
weight and carries the center of gravity forward 
to almost the same point as that of the solid bul- 
let. 







FIGURE 44. 22-CALIBER LONG-RIFLE BULLETS, SOLID AND 

HOLLOW POINT, MUCH ENLARGED, TO ILLUSTRATE 

THE INSERTION OF SHOT IN THE CAVITY 

With the high-powered rifles of extreme ve- 
locity, metal- jacketed bullets are used, which 
jacket is filled with a lead core. Jackets are 
generally made of a mixture of copper and nickel 
known as cupro-nickel, in order to withstand the 
enormous strain or torque produced by the quick 
twist of the rifle. 

The same principles as to fit and bearing 
obtain, but since the tough jacket takes a great 
deal more force to expand it, the bullet has been 
constructed of groove diameter as it has been 
found easier to engrave the cut of the lands than 
to expand the base to the grooved diameter. 
This, however, has been overcome in a recently 

96 



BULLETS 

designed bullet, the core of which is of composite 
construction, similar to the compound bullet used 
years ago in the long range muzzle loading rifle, 
and has even been carried further in order to 
carry the center of gravity nearer the point of the 
bullet. The construction is as follows (see Fig- 
ure 11 ) . The forward part of the core is of hard 
alloy of antimony, tin and lead, the base of softer 
alloy or pure lead. This core is swaged into the 
cupro-nickel jacket, and allows, by automatic 
expansion of the base, the bullet to become a two- 
cylindered bullet, which seems more accurate than 
the groove diameter bullet. 

In the 30-caliber we have many various weights 
of bullets and therefore can select the one which 
will deliver the energy of the blow required to the 
animal. The standard service bullet weighs 150 
grains, with solid jacket, but it has been found 
that the 180-grain bullet, with an increased pow- 
der charge to give it the same velocity as the 
lighter 150 -grain is very much better for 
long range work. This 180-grain bullet when 
loaded friction tight in the neck of the shell, 
without crimp, has given very satisfactory 
results as to accuracy, but inasmuch as we 
cannot use the solid pointed bullet for game 

97 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

purposes, we are forced to employ a jacket 
solid at the base and filled with the lead core 
from the point, which expands or muchrooms 
on impact. Then, too, in order to protect the 
sharp point in its flight, it has been necessary to 
place a cap over the lead core, allowing the rup- 
ture between it and the base jacket to occur at 
this junction of the cap and jacket. Nearly all 
the expanding bullets have been found too weak 
at this point to hold their shape in flight and their 
accuracy is questionable; we are also apt to find 
that they expand or mushroom too quickly when 
striking the object and are not a sufficiently 
stable vehicle to carry the shock deep enough. 

Then, too, most of these soft point bullets have 
a cannellure or groove in the jacket to hold the 
core firmly in the shell, which weakens the wall 
of the jacket. The best bullets for accuracy are 
those of the Newton type, with paper insulation, 
a pure copper jacket, and a lead core stiffened 
to the point by a steel wire run through its axis. 
The amount of expansion may be regulated by 
the lead exposed, which is a thing impossible to 
do with the capped bullet. 

As at present manufactured, this bullet shows 
too much lead on the point and breaks up before 

98 



BULLETS 



sufficient penetration is obtained. Its weight 
is 172 grains. The Winchester expanding point 
bullet is made with a cap swaged inside the 






M 








FIGURE 45. SECTIONS OF BULLETS 

1, 30-caliber umbrella, 180 grains, expanding; 2, 30-caliber 
Winchester, 150 grains, soft point; 3, 30-caliber solid jacket, 180 
grains; 4, 280 Ross, 143 grains, expanding; 5, 30-caliber New- 
ton, 172 grains, soft point; 6, 465-bore, 480 grains, soft point; 
7, 30-caliber boat-tail, 176 grains, solid; 
8, 465-bore, 480 grains, solid. 

jacket and is only supplied at present in 150- 
grain weight. It is too light to deliver a suffi- 
cient blow and the point extends too far back, 
thus expanding unduly with small resistance. 

99 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

This bullet has been recently improved by a re- 
duction of the length of cap and an increase of 
weight to 180 grains, while the jacket has been 
made considerably thicker. 

Another bullet with a cap or umbrella out- 
side the jacket, although made in both the 150- 
and 180-grain weights, I have found erratic. It 
would seem that the cap and body of the bullet 
in certain cases parted company and traveled in 
detachments, which, of course, insures not hitting 
the object aimed at. 

It will be readily seen that any advantage that 
may be obtained from the shape of the bullet, 
which increases its velocity without impairing its 
accuracy, is a step in the right direction, espe- 
cially if no increase in the weight is made, for then 
we have greater energy with less proportional 
breech pressure. Many devices have been tried 
in order to eliminate, or at least decrease, the 
vacuum formed at its base by the bullet in its 
flight, which acts as a drag, and the boat-tailed 
or pointed base bullet has been evolved. The 
difficulty is to obtain a proper and equal delivery 
with this curved base from the muzzle of the rifle. 

The French Army seems to have solved the 
problem in a way by tapering the rear portion of 

100 



BULLETS 

the bullet so that we have a long cone cut off 
square at the base proper; but they taper it to 
the point and to the base from the greatest diame- 
ter which is the bearing of groove diameter and 
is too short. We must remember, however, that 
the range and energy of this bullet, which is 
swaged cold from a solid bronze alloy, is due in 
a great measure to its weight, which is 203 grains, 
while the velocity is below 2,400 feet per second. 
Our own Ordnance Department has been ex- 
perimenting with a bullet having a very long 
ogive point, a short bearing on its fullest diameter 
and rather blunt pointed base. This bullet does 
not seem to have proven very satisfactory and the 
Du Pont Company have designed one with the 
forward point consisting of a long ogive, ap- 
proximately the radius of 11 diameters, and a 
bearing of about % mcn from the greatest diame- 
ter forward, and a base of truncated cone shape. 
The total length is 4% diameters. This bullet 
has been found to give satisfactory results when 
used with a specially slow burning powder, but, 
again, the powder on account of its slow and 
progressive burning qualities has been found diffi- 
cult to ignite, and a special primer with less in- 
tensity and more flash is used. The physical 

101 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

structure of the bullet is changed and the jacket 
made nearly three times the thickness of the old 
service type. The core was also made of a very 
much harder alloy. This refining of the point 
has, of course, placed the center of gravity nearer 
the base while a thickening of the jacket makes 
it more difficult to disrupt the point on impact. 

In order to construct a boat-tailed bullet suit- 
able for use against game it has been found neces- 
sary to fill the case from the point and to apply a 
cap or cone-shaped steel plug to expand the 
jacket. A well known manufacturing firm has 
been experimenting with a bullet of this type of 
about 185 grains weight, and undoubtedly some 
of these bullets will shortly be available; recent 
tests are recorded in Appendix VII. As it 
has not yet been tried on game, however, I would 
still strongly advise, for the present, use of the 
older type of 180-grain flat-base bullets. It 
would, however, be of great interest and value for 
sportsmen to obtain a few cartridges loaded as 
above, and try the same on game, the effect of 
which at present nothing is known. 

When we come to the heavy bores of 450 or 
better, we find that inasmuch as these rifles are 
used at short range, not over 100 or 150 yards, 

102 



BULLETS 

and that the one factor demanded is their smash- 
ing force, very little account need be taken of 
their wind-cutting properties, and with the mod- 
erate velocity of some 2,200 foot-seconds, we still 
retain the blunt pointed bullet, using a solid metal 
jacket rilled from the base in order to obtain suf- 
ficient penetration on the heavy pachyderm — 
rhino, elephant, hippo and buffalo. - An expand- 
ing bullet with the jacket filled from the point 
with lead exposed is best for the soft-skinned ani- 
mals. We may regulate the amount of expan- 
sion by the amount of lead exposed. Better re- 
sults will, however, be obtained with a smaller 
amount of lead point than with the bullets gen- 
erally supplied. For instance, against African 
buffalo, one generally uses a soft point in the 
right barrel and a solid point in the left, while 
for lion, at close quarters, both barrels should be 
loaded with soft point. 

As regards lead bullets for target use, the sole 
requirements are accuracy. We may take it as 
practically decided by those experiments con- 
ducted many years ago that a bullet of three and 
one-half diameters in length, with the forward 
part of land or bore diameter and the base of 
groove diameter, will give the best results; 

103 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

while for use in low-powered rifles, the temper 
or proportion of tin to lead has been found to 
range from one in thirty to one in twenty-five. 
These bullets should be cast true to size and not 
swaged and for lubrication should have their 
cannellures filled with a mixture of tallow, bees- 
wax and graphite; as to the lubrication of the 
metal jacketed bullets, that is touched on in the 
following chapter. With these lead bullets 
which are used for target work, a shoulder in 
front of the forward band will act as a wad cutter 
or target punch and leave a very clear hole in 
the target. There seems to be no reason for a 
greatly refined or wind-cutting point on any bul- 
let designed to be used with not over 1,500 to 
1,600 feet velocity. 



CHAPTER IX 

LUBRICATION OF BULLETS 

In the first muzzle loaders the round ball was 
generally wrapped in a linen or leather patch 
saturated with either wax or tallow or a mixture 
of both. These linen patched bullets seat very 
nicely, the fabric having enough elasticity to fill 
the grooves of the rifling and when the rifle was 
fired, the bullet usually of pure lead, expanded 
sufficiently to act as an almost perfect gas check 
in conjunction with the greased patch, and the 
reloading forced the fouling back into the pow- 
der chamber, thus leaving the bore practically in 
the same condition for each shot. 

It is rather remarkable to notice the absence of 
lead and powder fouling in this type of gun and 
the ease with which the residue of the last shot 
is cleaned out. It approximates very closely to 
the Pope barrel loaded from the muzzle and un- 
doubtedly accounts in a great measure for the 
long shooting life of a weapon thus loaded. 
With the advent of the breech loader the same 

105 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

system of patch was followed and with the earlier 
patterns of Sharp's rifles, and in fact with all the 
long range match rifles, the paper patch was used. 
This was usually of a fine grade of bond paper, 
and was wrapped around the bearing part of the 
bullet. The ordinary patch consisted of two 
thicknesses cut on one end to wrap counter to the 
rifling twist, and the end was cut off and twisted 
into a spill which was generally turned into the 
hollow in the bullet-base made for that purpose. 
These patches occasionally stuck to the bullet 
and caused irregularity in flight and there was 
developed a method of patching of two strips of 
paper known as the cross patch. These were 
laid across the bore of the gun, and when the 
bullet was forced into the barrel, the two 
pieces being bent formed a covering for the bear- 
ing of the bullet. For the breech loaders the 
paper patch was used of single thickness, designed 
by Mr. Chase of the Massachusetts Rifle Associa- 
tion, Walnut Hill. Both these two latter sys- 
tems accomplished what was sought, leaving the 
bullet or blown away on exit from the barrel. 
With many of the English rifles there was em- 
ployed a lubricant in the form of a wad, in addi- 
tion to the paper patch. This wad was generally 

106 



LUBRICATION OF BULLETS 

made of tallow and Japan wax and was placed 
next the bullet in the cartridge with a water- 
proof wad between it and the powder. 

The next step was to provide cannellure or 
grooves around the circumference of the bullet 
and to fill these with a rather heavy lubricating 
wax, trusting to the expansion of the bullet to 
force the lubricant out to the bore of the rifle; 
this practice is followed now in the case of lead 
bullets, very little change having been made in 
the consistency or ingredients of the lubricant in 
recent years. 

There was a lubricant made by E. A. Leopold, 
of Norristown, Pennsylvania, known as Banana 
lubricant, and in '90-'93 at Walnut Hill we all 
used it for our Schuetzen rifles in the following 
manner: The bullet was lubricated and passed 
through a sizing die which removed the excess 
grease. Then it was seated with a bullet seater 
in the barrel just in front of the chamber. The 
shell primed was filled with black powder — I 
think it was either Curtis and Harvey No. 6 or 
Hazard's Sea Shooting — a very moist burning 
black powder of great regularity. A thin sheer 
of the lubricant was pressed on top of the si 
which cut its own wad and kept the powder in 

107 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

place. This was then seated in the chamber of 
the gun and it was ready to fire. 

In those days it was rather amusing to see the 
match shooters, at long range, load their rifles — 
generally muzzle loaders or Sharp's breech 
loaders; the bullets, usually of compound model 
(the core and forward part of hard lead alloy 
and the bearing portion of softer lead) , were kept 
literally in cotton wool. The gun was stood up 
in the rack, the hammer half cocked and the 
nipple pricked with a needle to ensure that the 
vent was clear. Then one wet patch was run 
through the gun, followed by two dry ones and 
a slightly oiled one. The powder was sometimes 
brought in glass phials, weighed and labeled with 
date and the temperature of last recorded weigh- 
ing; a funnel was inserted in the muzzle and 
the powder carefully poured into the barrel, the 
false muzzle was placed on the gun and two strips 
of paper inserted in slots ; if the cross patch was 
used the bullet entered in the bullet seater and 
was driven home with one blow in order not to 
upset it more than could be avoided; the load- 
ing rod was then run through the false muzzle 
and the bullet seated on the powder. The false 
muzzle was removed, a cap placed on the nipple 

108 



LUBRICATION OF BULLETS 

and the piece was ready for firing. This proce- 
dure was followed in exact sequence — same num- 
ber of motions, same number of blows. Even 
one old shooter used to blow his nose between 
placing the false muzzle on the rifle and enter- 
ing the bullet. He was quite angry to know 
that some of us had bet on his actions. The 
above incident is quoted merely to show that 
exact similarity of loading was and still is neces- 
sary in rifle shooting. 

The standard lubricant for lead bullets is com- 
posed of equal parts: Tallow, free from acid; 
Japan wax and sperm oil or vaseline. 

Some use bayberry wax to stiffen, and nearly 
all add a slight amount of graphite to color and 
reduce friction. 

This lubricant should preferably be applied 
cold through a grease pump and the surplus 
lubricant wiped off, care being taken to avoid lu- 
bricant on the heel or point of the bullet. 

With the advent of smokeless powder and 
metal jacketed bullets, it was found that the heat 
developed by friction and powder pressure was 
so great that a lubricant with a higher melting 
point was needed. 

The Government issued Krag cartridges with 
109 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

the bullets coated with paraffine, Japan wax and 
graphite. This, since the bullets were badly- 
made, helped to keep the bullet in the shell and 
also aided in waterproofing, but was superseded 
by seating the bullets in shellac, as this made it 
more waterproof still. It was abandoned and 
the bullets were made with better jackets, with a 
cannellure into which the shell mouth was 
crimped. Still it was undoubtedly necessary to 
provide some lubricant in order to lessen the wear 
of the barrel and the subsequent metal fouling. 

Among match shooters it was the custom to 
graphite the interior of a clean barrel before 
shooting. This proved successful in a way, and 
the next move was to coat the powder with 
graphite. 

Then the Krag 30/40 was laid on the shelf and 
the Springfield model 1903, still retaining the 
220-grain bullet with round point, but with 2,250 
feet per second velocity, was adopted. Here 
at once the metal fouling increased enor- 
mously and it was the custom to use ammonia 
after each string of 40 shots to remove the metal 
fouling. 

Then came the Spitzer or sharp-pointed bul- 
let in 1906, with 2,700 feet velocity and still more 

110 



LUBRICATION OF BULLETS 

metal fouling. Graphite was incorporated with 
the powder in process of manufacture and the 
chemical constituents were changed to a gun cot- 
ton base in place of a nitro-glycerine base with 
W. A. and Cordite. This change undoubtedly 
reduced the heat cutting due to the very high 
temperature of the powder gas, but the fouling 
from the metal jacket still remained, and with the 
tendency to increase the velocity became worse. 
An experiment was tried out with several rifles 
in the U. S. Marine Corps, using mobilubricant, 
a heavy mineral grease of high melting and flash 
point, and it was found that by its use the metal 
fouling was more evenly spread throughout the 
bore. With the use of heavier bullets than 150 
grains for steadiness in long range shooting and 
to obtain more shocking power on game, the foul- 
ing increased and a mixture of canauba wax was 
tried on the bullet with some success. I have 
found that the best method of applying lubricant 
to the high-power bullet is as follows: 

2 ounces Mobilubricant 
1 ounce Canauba wax 

y^ ounce Beeswax 

14 ounce Japan wax 
1 teaspoonful Amorphous Graphite 

111 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

Melt in a small earthenware dish and mix thor- 
oughly. The bullets seated in the cartridge to be 
lubricated should be slightly heated and then 
dipped in the lubricant to the edge of the cart- 
ridge case ; the points should be wiped clean on a 
piece of cloth. This will leave the bullets with a 
band of lubricant in front of the case and the 
point clean. 

In using bullets not lubricated as above, the 
cartridge should be dipped cold in a small can 
of mobilubricant as far as the mouth of the shell 
just before firing. 

A new method to reduce metal fouling has been 
used since the War in 1918. 

It was observed that with the French 155 
Schneider howitzer a strip of soft metal was intro- 
duced occasionally into the powder charge; this 
was found to be a ribbon of nearly pure tin and 
ift undoubtedly did remove the copper left in the 
bore from the rotating bands of the projectile. 

I have seen French artillery officers put the tin- 
foil wrapping of the primer in the power cham- 
ber of the piece evidently with the same purpose 
in view. 

On investigation, the following facts were 
brought to light : 

112 



LUBRICATION OF BULLETS 

First, that tin is a most sympathetic and nat- 
ural alloy of copper. 

Second, that the melting point of tin is 446° 
Fahrenheit, while that of copper is 1,940°. 

Third, that a certain amount of tin in either 
strip or powdered form might be introduced in 
the powder charge, reducing the pressure ma- 
terially and slightly lowering the velocity. The 
tin melting at the low temperature of 446° F. be- 
comes metallic vapor, as the temperature gener- 
ated by the charge is about 1,500° F. This va- 
por absorbs and amalgamates with the copper de- 
posit left by the projectile, which is in a partly 
molten state, and the amalgam passes out at the 
muzzle, reducing the amount of metal fouling re- 
maining in the barrel some 60 per cent. 

Hence, the introduction of a thin wad of pure 
tin foil over the powder charge, or an amount of 
tin finely powdered mixed loose with the powder 
in proportion of three per cent, of the weight of 
powder charge, will reduce the metallic residue in 
the barrel with no dangerous results, and may 
well be applied to all sporting cartridges employ- 
ing a metal- jacketed bullet of a copper alloy. 



CHAPTER X 

CAETRIDGES 

Too much care and personal attention cannot 
be given to the careful and accurate loading of 
cartridges, especially those for use against dan- 
gerous game. The shooter's life may depend on 
a single cartridge and it does not pay to neglect 
any precaution possible. 

As to the powders used for the various guns 
and bullets, with the selection of three rifles we 
are limited in choice to those which will give the 
best results for the purpose in hand. A sum- 
mary of the characteristics peculiar to each pow- 
der suited for the arms will aid in logical choice. 

Beginning with the smallest bore, the 22-long 
rifle, we find the chief difficulty with the cartridge 
is the proportion of fulminate of mercury in com- 
parison to the propelling charge. 

The primer compound is contained in the 
folded rim of the case and is very corrosive in the 
action of its residue on the barrel ; and unless very 
carefully mixed — is erratic in its flash. 

114 







jgpssmmwm 



& 

•' 




CARTRIDGES 

The powder charge is so small, only 3% grains, 
that the priming compound plays an important 
part in the force exerted on the bullet. 

There are three powders in general use in this 
cartridge, a very fine grain black, a coarser grain 
of black containing about 20 per cent, of gun cot- 
ton and known as Lesmok, and one of the finer 
grained smokeless bulk powders. 

With the first we get rather bad caking which, 
combined with the grease of the lubrication on the 
bullet, leaves the barrel, especially in hot weather, 
with a bad coating of fouling. It has, however, 
the great advantage of regularity. 

The addition of gun cotton, one to five, in the 
Lesmok aids the ignition, and to a certain degree 
increases the strength of the powder ; the residue 
is not so tenacious as that of the black. With 
some of the recent higher velocity cartridges for 
use at ranges of 100 yards and over, the propor- 
tion of gun cotton has been increased, but I think 
that recently the increase of velocity has been car- 
ried too far, and with the stronger cartridges of 
many makes we find one or two unaccountable 
shots out of every ten or twenty fired. With 
smokeless powder generally loaded with unlubri- 
cated bullets we get an increase of leading which 

115 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

alone is sufficient to condemn them, to say noth- 
ing of a more corrosive effect of the admixture 
of fulminate with the residue. 

The cartridge which is now in general use is 
one loaded with 3.4 grains of Lesmok and a taper 
hullet of 40 grains; velocity of 1,060 feet per sec- 
ond, and in accuracy, while quite exceptional, is 
hardly as regular as a weaker propelling charge. 
It is to be hoped that the cartridge companies will 
shortly give us a 22-long rifle cartridge loaded 
with 3.5 grains of Lesmok with better percentage 
of gun-cotton admixture, a velocity of 1,000 feet 
and a two-diameter bullet of 45 grains with a 
shoulder back of the ogive to act as a target 
punch. This will give a muzzle energy of 110 
foot-pounds, only some four pounds less than the 
higher velocity. On account of the heavier bul- 
let, this will be more stable in its ballistic char- 
acter. 

With the 30-caliber high-velocity U. S. Spring- 
field cartridges, our choice is necessarily limited 
to those powders adapted to the rifle and giving 
the velocities required with the small powder 
space in the cartridge case. 

Passing over the various powders adapted to 
guns of different caliber, we will take those espe- 

116 



CARTRIDGES 

cially designed for the more recent bullets and 
see what characteristics each has. 

All are progressive, that is, burning only fast 
enough to exert the entire amount of energy and 
to consume the charge as the bullet reaches the 
forward part of the bore. 

The slowest is No. 15 Du Pont, requiring a 
greater weight of charge to produce the velocity 
required than the higher numbers. The best for 
use with the 180-grain bullet without undue or 
dangerous pressure and giving the necessary 
velocity are Nos. 16 and 17, while for the lighter 
150-grain bullet we find that No. 20, with slightly 
more initial pressure, is well adapted. All these 
powders are manufactured by E. I. du Pont de 
Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Delaware, 
md are designed for the purposes stated. 

The loading directions for the 150-grain regu- 
lation cartridge are as follows : 

Shell. — Frankford Arsenal, primer pocket reamed. 

Primer. — U. S. A. 49, U.M.C. No. 8 copper or Win- 
chester 35 N.M. 

Powder. — 49% grains Du Pont M.R. No. 20 or Pyro. 

Bullet. — Winchester 150 grains seated to cannellure in 
shell and crimped. 

Velocity. — 2,634 feet per second at 150 feet which 
equals 2,700 at muzzle. 

Pressure. — 46,000 pounds per square inch. 

117 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

With the 180-grain bullet, velocity of 2,700 
feet per second, I use the shell and primer recom- 
mended for the 150-grain bullet, but employ a 
charge of Du Pont I.M.R. No. 17 of 48.8 grains 
weight and obtain a breech pressure of 52,000 to 
54,000 pounds. 






FIGURE 47. TEN SHOTS AT 100 YARDS, MUZZLE AND ELBOW 
REST, U. S. SPRINGFIELD '03 RIFLE WITH POPE BARREL, 
LYMAN NO. 48 REAR SIGHT AND SHEARD VlQ INCH GOLD BEAD 
FRONT SIGHT, 48.7 GRAINS DU PONT NO. 17 POWDER, 180- 
GRAIN SOLID-JACKET BULLET; U. M. C. 
NO. 8 PRIMER. ACTUAL SIZE 

Muzzle velocity, 2,710 foot-seconds; muzzle energy, 2,900 
foot-pounds. This group was in the 10 ring of six-inch 
standard American target and measures 
1.6 inches in diameter. 

Substituting the 172-grain Newton soft point 
bullet for the 180-grain solid, we get a falling off 
in velocity of nearly 100 feet per second, and a 
reduction of breech pressure of some 4,000 
pounds; thus we find it logical to increase the 

118 



CARTRIDGES 

charge of powder to 49% grains of No. 17 and 
obtain a pressure of about 50,000 to 52,000 
pounds with velocity not quite approximately 
2,700 feet. 

The jacket of this bullet seems too soft and the 
point is fuller than that of the solid 180-grain 
which accounts for lower velocity and pressures. 
Du Pont I.M.R. No. 15 may be used but it oc- 
cupies a greater space in the restricted powder 
chamber and to obtain velocities equal to our re- 
quirements we must employ a charge of 53 grains 
with the 180-grain bullet. The variations of 
pressure are slightly more erratic due to the re- 
duced air space and run from 52,000 to 55,000 
pounds. 

A new powder by Du Pont, not yet on the mar- 
ket, has given most remarkable results. Tin is 
incorporated with the grain and a new retardant 
used to make it even more progressive in its burn- 
ing qualities; this makes it appear probable that 
in the near future we will have a boat-tailed sport- 
ing bullet of 200 grains weight with 2,700 feet 
velocity, normal breech pressures, and with it the 
other great advantage of practically no metal 
fouling. 

With the 180-grain bullet this powder has 
119 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

shown muzzle velocity of 2,760 feet and a breech 
pressure of 51,720 pounds. 

For a reduced load for short range not over 
200 yards, a load of 19 grains of Du Pont No. 
75 and a 150-grain metal jacketed bullet, the ve- 
locity is 1,675 feet, breech pressure 44,000 pounds. 




•* 



H 



figure 48. groups shot with u. s. springfield '03 rifle 

with reduced load of 19 grains du pont no. 75 powder, 

150-grain metal-jacketed bullet. left, 50 

yards; right, 100 yards, actual size 

Tests at New Haven show wonderful regularity 
of 1,548, 1,548, 1,547, 1,548 feet per second ve- 
locity, while at Wilmington several days later on 
an entirely different set of instruments they ran 
1,629, 1,617, 1,623, 1,629 feet per second. The 
pressure given is the maximum so that the load is 
wonderfully accurate at short ranges. 

120 



CARTRIDGES 

Now as we increase the velocity with a given 
weight of bullet we increase the pressure at the 
breech but in nothing like the proportion with 
increased weight of bullet, for here we have more 
resistance. Likewise, with a grade of powder 
with slower combustion, we may require a greater 
amount of resistance by the bullet to develop 
the latent properties of the powder to the best 
advantage. 

It should be remembered, however, that for 
sporting purposes, that an energy dependent on 
no one physical factor is best. For if we get the 
force of shock by heavy bullet we surely sacri- 
fice some other property of the cartridge. Like- 
wise all the velocity in the world is valueless un- 
less we have a bullet of sufficient cohesion and 
weight to apply that force and not only to apply 
it superficially; but we must have such physical 
properties of the bullet that while expanding suf- 
ficiently to insure a proper lateral distribution 
of the energy it contains it will hold together and 
will have penetration sufficient to reach the heart 
and lungs, through hide, muscles, and bones of 
the shoulder and chest. The disruptive or explo- 
sive effect frequently claimed for the Springfield 
bullet at distances up to 600 yards on soft tissue, 

121 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

brain, paunch and the intestines of animals, I 
have never found beyond 60 or 70 yards; and as 
for depending on velocity alone to transmit, 
through liquid or semi-liquid contents of stomach 
or skull, sufficient lateral dispersion of power 
to explode the container, we cannot count on that 
in any way at all. With the solid bullets of 180 
grains, I have found that the bases were distorted 
and that the path cut by the bullet on encounter- 
ing heavy bones was changed in most cases, caus- 
ing the bullet to tumble or keyhole and cut a slash 
sideways through the adjacent tissue. 

If we increase the weight of the bullet too much 
we find that we increase the trajectory and there- 
fore increase the chance of vertical error in esti- 
mation of range. If we increase the velocity too 
much we get superficial application of the energy 
of our bullet and also decrease its accuracy, for 
we carry the speed beyond the point where the 
bullet will travel rotating on its longer axis in 
true flight. 

So, too, we must have sufficient twist to keep 
the bullet point on its flight and not tumble or 
keyhole in the air on encountering slight resis- 
tance. 

There are so many elements which go to make 
122 



CARTRIDGES 

up each of the factors that we can only come to 
this conclusion: an increase in any one factor, 
unless counterbalanced by a similar increase in the 
others, will give uncertain results. 

It has been found by experience that the 30- 
caliber 180-grain bullet with 2,700 feet velocity 
does give satisfactory results both as to accuracy 
and energy, but that with the soft point bullets, 
at present commercially procurable, the tendency 
is to break up too quickly. This is due, I think, 
to the general use of these rifles on game not 
larger than deer and the desire of the cartridge 
manufacturers to insure expansion of the bullet's 
point. I know of no really perfectly satisfactory 
soft-pointed Spitzer bullet yet made — there is 
something out about each. I have had the best 
results with Newton bullets; but they are too 
light, 172 grains, and have too much lead exposed 
at the point, and so go to pieces too quickly. 

One other element in the cartridge and a very 
important one is the primer. Enough attention 
has not been paid to the quality of the flash re- 
quired by different powders to insure the best 
method of ignition. A sufficient flash with 
proper intensity to insure ignition at the proper 
depth in the charge is what is needed. 

123 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

Some years ago a set of experiments were car- 
ried on in England and a very satisfactory solu- 
tion was found in (shotguns) adapting various 
primers with different qualities to various smoke- 
less powders. Otherwise the primer was made 
for the powder. This we have not done in Amer- 





B 






FIGURE 49. SECTION OF INTERIOR OF SO-CALIBER SPRING- 
FIELD CARTRIDGE CASES 

ica and our manufacturers have given us the all 
around primer for all powders, which is unsatis- 
factory. 

The shape of the interior base of the cart- 
ridge case has a great deal to do with the present- 
ing of the powder charge to the primer in proper 
form and supplying the base from which the 
energy is applied to the bullet. 

With the older type of case, trouble was found 
with the heads breaking off at the base, especially 
with the rimless cartridge, which left the base 
of the cartridge supported by the bolt and not 
by the chamber. The shape of the interior of 

124 



CARTRIDGES 

the powder chamber has been changed and more 
metal left at the weakest point. Figure 49A 
represents the older case and shows how the walls 
were too thin at the base. B is the present type 
of case and C is one made even stronger, which, 
however, curtails the powder chamber. 

It is necessary to be sure that the quality and 
quantity of the brass at this point of the case be 
sufficient to prevent any crack or breakage. An 
incident recently occurred when a well-known 
cartridge company, either through negligence or 
because of a saving nature, the brass being very 
expensive, turned out a lot of weak cases, with 
the result that on one range there were three 
burst rifles. 

With the very latest pattern of military cart- 
ridge, a boat-shaped bullet of improved pattern 
is employed and the actual construction has been 
changed in bullet composition both as regards 
jacket and core. A new powder has been made 
especially for this bullet which reduces the metal 
fouling about 60 per cent. The cartridge has 
given wonderful results, a mean deviation of 
2-11/16 inches having been obtained at 600 
yards. 

A rather laughable state of affairs exists in re- 
125 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

gard to our Tables of Ranges and Trajectory as 
compiled by the Ordnance Department, and 
shows how accurate and reliable the source is. 

The range given as maximum with the 150- 
grain service bullet is 4,400 yards with all the 
ordinates and remaining velocity, and it has only 
been found by actual firing this past year that 
the utmost limit of range reached with the 150- 
grain bullet was 3,100 yards. The 180-grain 
bullet carried 4,100 yards and the new 176-grain 
Swiss pattern reached 5,100 yards, showing how 
the heavier bullet conserves the remaining en- 
ergy, and how the change in material and shape 
have improved the ballistics. 

This, with the increased accuracy up to 600 
yards at least, absence of metal fouling and low 
breech pressure, is one of the most important im- 
provements of recent years. 

Whether the new bullet will be a good game 
cartridge remains to be seen. We will undoubt- 
edly obtain accuracy, velocity, low pressure and 
practically eliminate metal fouling, but I am 
afraid we will not get satisfactory expansion to 
insure shocking force. 

The above charges have been tried and found 
thoroughly satisfactory on game and the pres- 

126 



CARTRIDGES 

sure when the cartridges are loaded properly can 
be relied on. 

As to the necessity of a reduction of charge of 
powder for use in tropical countries, the Du Pont 
Company have made a sufficiently stable powder 
to disregard this element for all practical pur- 
poses, and I have found little or no increase of 
pressure in cartridges that have been to Africa 
and back. The same may be said for the keep- 
ing qualities, for except for the strain at the neck 
of the shell, caused by seating the bullets friction 
tight, very little deterioration will be found after 
even two or three years. 

But this cannot be said of Cordite and the pow- 
ders with nitroglycerine base, for they are af- 
fected by heat, the pressures under varying condi- 
tions increasing unduly, while with cartridges 
over eighteen months old a noticeable falling off 
of accuracy is seen. I have some 375 Cordite 
cartridges of twelve years vintage, and practi- 
cally all will keyhole the bullet some eight to 
twelve inches from the bull at fifty yards. 

Now the charges for the big 465 Life Saver 
have been regulated for tropical conditions and 
the reduction varies with the different types of 
powder used. I find that Cordite, when freshly 

127 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

loaded, and used in temperate climate, gives the 
best ballistic results, but that for tropical use 
the flat strip type known as Moddite is superior ; 
there seems to be less deterioration. I have 
found Axite, another type, to give very erratic 
results even when freshly loaded and it seems to 
deteriorate rapidly with age. 

If the cartridge manufacturer is consulted and 
enough insistence made, he will find out the char- 
acteristics of the special lot of powder being sup- 
plied at the time and will load accordingly. The 
general load for 465 rifle of 11 to 12 pounds 
weight, shooting a 480-grain bullet, is 78 to 80 
grains of Cordite for temperate zone, 74 to 76 
grains for the tropics ; Moddite, 76 to 78 temper- 
ate; 72 to 74 for tropics. 

Messrs. Eley have loaded my cartridges, which 
I have obtained through Messrs. James Purdey 
and Sons, London, and I have always found 
them satisfactory for the heavy rifles. 

For the 30-180-2,700, I have had three 
leading cartridge manufacturers load for me 
here; Winchester, Union Metallic Cartridge 
Company, and United States Cartridge Com- 
pany; I have loaded Frankford Arsenal shells 
myself. 

188 



FIGURE 50. TEN SHOTS RIGHT AND LEFT 465 CORDITE RIFLE, 

FULL CHARGE, SHOT AT 50 YARDS, OFFHAND POSITION. 

DIAMETER OF GROUP 4% INCHES. REDUCED ONE-HALF 



• 



f 



FIGURE 51. TEN SHOTS RIGHT AND LEFT 4<65 CORDITE RIFLE, 

FULL CHARGE, SHOT AT 100 YARDS, OFFHAND POSITION. 

DIAMETER OF GROUP 6% INCHES. REDUCED ONE-HALF 



129 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

My best results, both as to regularity and ac- 
curacy, have been obtained with the U.M.C. No. 
8 Primer in a Frankford Government shell, 48.8 
grains of Du Pont No. 17 powder, hand weighed, 
and a Winchester bullet 180 grains, solid metal 
jacket, seated friction tight. So, at least, my 
conclusions as to reliability of cartridge material 
are composite. 

With the Krag 30/40, I have found the fol- 
lowing loads to give very good results; U.M.C. 
No. 8 Primer and Frankford Arsenal shell being 
used in each instance: 

Du Pont No. 17, 35 grains ; bullet, 220 grains ; ve- 
locity, 1,980; breech pressure, 36,000 pounds. 

Du Pont No. 17, 41 grains ; bullet, 180 grains ; ve- 
locity, 2,360; breech pressure, 41,000 pounds. 

Du Pont No. 17, 42 grains; bullet, 172 grains; ve- 
locity, 2,400 ; breech pressure, 40,000 pounds. 

All bullets should be band lubricated as de- 
scribed in the chapter on lubrication of bullets 
and seated friction tight in the neck of the shell. 
With the 180- and 172-grain bullets, owing to 
their lighter weight, there will be a slightly 
greater air space which does nothing but reduce 
velocity slightly and relieves breech pressure a 
little. 

130 



CARTRIDGES 

If it is desired to shoot a reduced load for short 
range target or small game, the best load is 
Frankford Arsenal shell and a U.M.C. No. 8 
Primer, or if non-mercuric is used, No. 9, 16 
grains of Du Pont 75 powder and a 150-grain 
metal jacket bullet. The accuracy is exceptional 
at ranges up to 200 yards; the velocity about 
1,600 feet and the breech pressure low enough 
to be perfectly safe. This cartridge, with a soft 
point bullet does well for a deer cartridge, and, 
another point in its favor, it does not leave 
a different metallic fouling in the bore as 
does a lead bullet. Of course we do not 
utilize the extreme capabilities of the gun 
either as to range or killing power, but 
it makes a pleasant load to practice with. As to 
the use of lead bullets in a barrel intended for 
those with metal jacket, my advice is "Don't." 
You get lead residue in the grooves and it is al- 
most impossible to remove it entirely. Then, too, 
it affects the shooting of the rifle erratically when 
again used with metal- jacket ammunition, but 
if the shooter must try it, or if the dangers in 
the use of the metal-covered bullet are too great, 
he will find that good results may. be obtained 
with the following charges, especially if a twist of 

131 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

one in twelve or one in fourteen in the barrel be 
used: 

Sliell. — Frankford, 30-caliber, model 1898, with crease 
in neck just in front of powder chamber to keep 
the bullet from receding into the shell. 

Primer.— U.M.C. No. 8 or Peters 2%. 

Powder. — 14% grains Du Pont Schuetzen. 

Bullet. — Ideal 308241 special, with tallow and wax 
lubrication, weight 158 grains, cast of one part 
tin to 15 parts lead, seated to crease in neck of 
shell with a thin cardboard wad at base of bullet. 

With this load we employ the methods used in 
Schuetzen rifles as the load is similar save that 
the temper of the bullet is made harder on ac- 
count of the increased twist and the need of more 
resistance in the material to prevent stripping. 

There is one great advantage in this load, its 
cheapness, for if a shooter makes his own bullets 
it will cost him, not counting shells, which can 
be used many times, or those which have been 
fired with the full charge and can be reloaded 
with merely the addition of the crease, about 
$10.00 per thousand. 

Still, it is a bad plan to use both lead and metal 
patched bullets in the same barrel and the use of 
a 22- or 32-caliber rifle for this work is greatly 
to be preferred. 



CHAPTER XI 

ELEVATION 

There is no royal road to sighting a rifle abso- 
lutely. 

To be sure of the elevations and the necessary 
raises of the rear sight, the rifle should be shot 
at the ranges to be used and the exact location 
of the peep hole of the rear sight or the slide bar 
noted carefully. 

In order to measure this accurately and to de- 
termine the point of impact of the bullet on the 
target, we employ a micrometer or Vernier ad- 
justable scale measuring a certain distance on the 
rear sight in hundredths of an inch, — or even 
less if the sight adjuster is regulated in propor- 
tion to the right radius to produce a change of 
one inch in the point at which the bullet strikes 
the target. The distance we elevate or lower 
the rear sight to produce this effect of one inch 
100 yards away is known as a minute of angle. 

The simplest way to comprehend the minute 
of angle is to take a rifle fitted with a peep rear 

1S3 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

and a globe front sight fitted with aperture disk 
and fix it firmly in a rest or vise. We then take 
a piece of silk thread knotted to a match at one 
end and pass it through the rear sight peep hole 
from the rear, — the knot will prevent its passing 
entirely through. We then thread the free end 
through the aperture in the disk of the front sight. 
If we hold the end of the thread on the target 
and move the rifle until the thread is pulled tight 
and straight we have a line representing our line 
of sight, a straight line drawn from the eye 
through the apertures of rear and front sight to 
the objective. It is perfectly evident that a 
movement of the rear sight will cause this straight 
line to move either up or down, right or left on 
the target, the distance which is proportionate to 
the length of the thread from the front to rear 
sight compared with the distance of that portion 
of the thread from the front sight of the object- 
ive, since our front sight acts as a pivot or axis 
for two circles; the radius of one is the distance 
between the sights and the other the distance 
from sight to objective or target. So we can 
calculate that the distance the rear sight is moved 
up or down multiplied by the number of times 
the sight radius is contained in the range will be 

134 



ELEVATION 

the distance the point of aim is changed on the 
target. 

Now since we know our objective or range 
radius and the desired arc we wish it to describe 
— 100 yards radius, arc one inch — we can, know- 
ing the distance between our front and rear sight 
or sight radius, calculate the amount in thou- 
sandths of an inch that is necessary to raise or 
lower the rear sight. While this amount of arc 
described by the peep hole of the rear sight 
varies with the length of the sight radius, it still 
describes that portion of a circle amounting to one 
inch at 100 yards and is known as a minute of 
angle. 

Let us take for example a rifle, say a Winches- 
ter single shot, with a 32-inch barrel and fitted 
with a Lyman 103 rear tang sight with Vernier 
vertical and lateral adjustments. It will give us 
a sight radius of exactly 36 inches or one yard. 
This is one one-hundredth part of the distance 
from the muzzle of the gun to the target 100 
yards away, so we will find that our minute of 
angle for this particular rifle is .01 inch. With 
the service rifle, the sights placed 22.126 inches 
apart, we find the minute of angle is .0061 of an 
inch actual movement of rear sight to produce 

135 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

one inch change on the target, while if we use the 
Lyman 48 rear sight set back on the receiver, we 
have a sight radius of 28 inches and our minute 
of angle will measure .0077 inch. Or, if we use 
a Lyman 103 sight mounted on the bolt head we 
add S% inches to our sight distance and get with 
the figure 31.5 inches for our radius and an abso- 
lute rise of .0086 inch, but have a more unstable 
base. 

Now our Lyman "No. 48 rear sight is graduated 
in .008 inch for each point or minute of rise and 
will therefore give us practically our minute of 
angle of one inch at 100 yards. All the tables 
which follow are figured on the basis of a minute 
of angle, as are the wind allowances and those for 
temperature and barometer. The Lyman 103 
sight is graduated in one-half minutes of angle 
so that it requires twice the movement to obtain 
the results above. The sights for English double 
Cordite rifles have folding leaves which are filed 
to the correct height by the gun maker and 
stamped with the distance in 100 yards for which 
the sight is intended. 

Now the normal sighting is affected reversely 
by the height of the front sight; if it is higher, 
the line of sight remaining straight, the bore will 

136 



ELEVATION 

be depressed at the muzzle and we will require 
just so much more elevation of our rear sight to 
correct to normal. 

When we raise the rear sight, the line of sight 
remaining perfectly straight causes the breech 
end of the barrel to be depressed and points the 
muzzle higher, thus giving us a greater angle of 
the axis of the bore prolonged with the line of 
sight. This angle is known as the angle of de- 
parture. If the axis of the bore were pro- 
longed, it would carry the bullet into space but 
we have gravity which, acting on the bullet, at- 
tracts it to the earth and so the flight is a curve 
upwards and downwards, but always down to the 
earth finally. This curve is known as the tra- 
jectory. Likewise we have the force of any wind 
there may be blowing the bullet away from its 
straight flight in the direction in which the wind 
is blowing, and this curve, added to that of the 
trajectory, must be allowed for by lateral move- 
ment of the sights to compensate for it. 

Thus it will be seen that the correct placing of 
the shot on the objective is directly due to the 
skill of the shooter in adjusting his sights to allow 
for this compound curve. 

There follows a table of normal elevations for 
137 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

the U. S. Rifle, Model '03, with '06 ammunition, 
calculated in minutes of angle, 150-grain bullet 
with 2,700 foot-seconds velocity, with both U. S. 
regulation front sight and gold-bead Sheard 
front sight, with table of elevation for the same 
rifle, with 180-grain bullet and 2,720 foot-seconds 
velocity; also table of ballistic data for the 150- 
grain bullet. 

Actual Sighting Used on 30 Springfield, with Lyman 48 Rear 
Sight, U. S. Regulation Front Sight and Sheard Gold 
Bead of Diameter .0647 inch, Height .02 inch More Than 
U. S. 





150-grain Bullet, V, 2,700 


180-grain Bullet, 
V, 2,720 


Range, 
yards 


U. S. Front 


Sheard 

or 
King 


Sheard 

or 
King 




Eleva- 
tion in 
Min- 
utes 


Come 
up 


Eleva- 
tion in 
Min- 
utes 


Come 
up 


Eleva- 
tion in 
Min- 
utes 


Come 
up 


100 
.200 
300 
500 
600 
800 
1,000 


2 
5 
8 
16 
20 
32 
48 


3 
3 

8 

4 

12 

16 


5 
7 
11 
18 
20 
34 
50 


2 
3 
7 
4 
12 
16 


6 
8 
12 
18 
21 
32 
47 


2 
4 
6 
3 
11 
15 



It will be seen that the heavier 180-grain bul- 
let needs slightly more elevation up to about 400 
yards when the remaining energy begins to tell 
and at 1,000 yards is a decided advantage. 

Since we will hardly have time to change and 
138 



ELEVATION 

Ballistic Data on 150-grain Bullet, U. S. '06 Magazine Rifle, 
2,700 foot-seconds muzzle velocity, from u. s. ordnance 
Taiile. 











Remain- 


Remain- 




Angle of 
Depar- 


Ordinate 


Time 
of 


ing Ve- 
locity, 


ing 


Range, 




Yards 


Energy 


yards 


ture, 


Inches 


from 


Flight, 


foot- 


foot- 




minutes 




Muzzle 


seconds 


seconds 


pounds 


100 


2.42 


.655 


50.9 


.116 


2,465 


2,034 


200 


5.15 


2.90 


103.8 


.243 


2,244 


1,687 


300 


8J27 


7.15 


157.5 


.384 


2,039 


1,392 


500 


15.92 


24.37 


270.5 


.709 


1,668 


932 


600 


20.65 


39.24 


329.47 


.899 


1,509 


762 


800 


32.44 


87.84 


452.23 


1,340 


1,238 


513 


1,000 


48.20 


183.36 


580.7 


1,864 


1,068 


382 



regulate the rear sight when shooting at game, 
except for very deliberate shots, we must find an 
average elevation which may be used for all sport- 
ing distances where quick shots may be necessary 
and make such allowances as we can by holding 
higher or lower on the animal. It is a very bad 
practice to change the amount of front sight 
taken to vary the point of impact; far better to 
know where your rifle should hit and to vary the 
point of aim to reach a vital spot. 

This is not so formidable a question as it seems, 
for we will find that the rise and fall of the 30- 
caliber bullet is only about 7% inches at 300 
yards, so that if we correct for 200 yards some 
three inches we will have a drop of only 4% 
inches at 300 or a continuous danger zone of 10 
inches from zero to 300 yards ; but as none of our 

139 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

shots are likely to be under 75 to 100 yards and 
rarely, unless on the open plains, over 250 yards, 
we may reduce the striking zone by one-third for 
general shooting and obtain a vertical deviation 
of about seven inches for our 30 Springfield at 
sporting ranges, if we set our sight at 200 yards. 

There is another element which, although 
slight at sporting ranges, must be reckoned with 
and that is the drift of the bullet caused by the 
twist of the rifling. And we find that with the 
right-hand spiral of the Springfield the drift is 
to the right but is over-corrected by the sight so 
that it starts to the left, gradually lessening in 
effect up to about 500 yards, when it crosses the 
vertical line of fire and becomes zero, and from 
that point is to the right. 

The maximum horizontal deviation is to the 
left at 300 yards, about one-half inch, while at 
1,000 yards it is 13 inches right. This drift is au- 
tomatically corrected in part by cutting the slide 
frame of the regulation rear sight at an angle 
with the true vertical, the intersection of the lines 
being at 500 yards, and I know of no easier way 
than to set the regulation rear sight on the rifle 
at 500 yards, to raise the Lyman sight until the 
front sight is plainly visible through the peep and 

140 



ELEVATION 

Table of Elevations for the Krag 1898, with 220-grain, Bluff- 
Point Bullet with 2,000 foot-seconds Muzzle Velocity and 
1,972 foot-pounds Energy at Muzzle; the Drift is to the 
Left up to 1,000 Yards; Afterwards to the Right. 











Rear 




Range, 


Angle of 


Eleva- 


Velocity, 


Energy, 


Time 


yards 


Departure, 


tion, 


foot- 


foot- 


of Flight, 




minutes 


minutes 


seconds 


pounds 


seconds 


100 


4.29 


4 


1,783 


1,553.2 


.159 


200 


9.43 


9 


1,527 


1,235.3 


.337 


300 


15.51 


16 


1,361 


985.2 


.537 


500 


3155 


25 


1,100 


6321.8 


1.012 


600 


41.27 


34 


1/>18 


532.6 


1,288 


800 


65.47 


56 


905 


416.3 


1,901 


1,000 


96.01 


82 


816 


337.4 


21,587 



Table of Elevations for the Krag 30/40 1898, with Spitzer 
180-grain Bullet, 2,300 foot-seconds Muzzle Velocity, 2,150 
foot-pounds Energy at Muzzle. 



Range, 


Elevation, 


Come Up, 


yards 


minutes 


minutes 


100 


3.3 




200 


6.8 


3.5 


300 


10.9 


4.1 


500 


21.2 


10.3 


600 


27.5 


6.3 


800 


42.5 


15.0 


1,000 


60.8 


18.3 



to correct for windage until the sights are cen- 
tered. The permanent wind scale of the Lyman 
sight should be set to zero and screwed tight. 

It is also a good plan to engrave on the eleva- 
tion slide of the Lyman rear sight the minutes of 
angle required for the various distances when the 
rifle has been shot and proven with the cartridge 
used, and I have on my rear slide the figures 6- 
8-11-18-21-32-4,7 for the 180-grain bullet and on 
a spare slide the elevation for the 150-grain bul- 

141 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

let. Then if you set your minimum elevation 
screw for 100 yards and prove the sighting, you 
can always, when you change your cartridge, 
have the correct elevation by slipping in a spare 
slide. 

For the 22-long rifle cartridge a sight set at 30 
yards will keep the shots in a 2% inch circle at 
from zero to 50 yards, while with the 450 Cordite 
the ordinate of trajectory is only 2^4 inches for 
100 yards, and with the sight regulated for that 
distance we may be sure of a hit in an eight-inch 
circle up to 150 yards if we can hold well enough. 

My own 4*65 Cordite rifle has a standard rear 
notch for 50 yards with two extra leaves which 
turn up for 100 and 150 yards, and I have very 
rarely used any but the lowest sight. 

Front sights should be protected with a stalk- 
ing muzzle when in the field as they are liable to 
be hit or bent. 



CHAPTER XII 

WINDAGE AND ATMOSPHERE 

The effect of wind, light and weather on the 
flight of the bullet is variable and the results 
vary according to the clearness of the atmosphere. 
In the main, I have endeavored to deduce some 
few simple rules which may be readily applied 
without the tedious calculations generally re- 
sorted to, and the following "rule-of- thumb" 
method suffices for all sporting purposes with the 
30-180-2,720 rifle. 

I have used the 30-150-2,700 Springfield cart- 
ridge as an example, for we have some data and 
tables to deduce from for this cartridge. 

As to the calculation of wind, the simplest way 
to calculate is to suppose the shooter occupies the 
center of a clock face, the target or objective be- 
ing represented by the figure 12. We can then 
designate the various directions from which the 
wind is blowing as 9 o'clock or 4 o'clock and know 
what direction is meant. Now the bullet on leav- 
ing the barrel is acted on by three elements, only 

143 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

one of which is constant; that is gravity. The 
other two are the force of the wind carrying the 
bullet in the direction towards which the wind is 
blowing and the density of the atmosphere re- 
tarding or accelerating its flight and thus giving 
the constant force of gravity more or less time to 
act on the bullet. 

For example, we will take the force of the wind 
at 10 miles per hour, for from that figure we may 
easily reckon the subdivisions in decimal frac- 
tions. 

We find that the deflection of the bullet caused 
by a 9 o'clock wind of 10 miles per hour is as fol- 
lows (U. S. Ordnance Table) : 



200 yards -, 2.90 inches 

300 yards 7.40 inches 

400 yards 13.92 inches 

500 yards 22 JO inches 

600 yards 33.60 inches 

700 yards 47.60 inches 

800 yards 64.00 inches 

1,000 yards 106.80 inches 



Now, roughly speaking, we may take the 
square of the distance up to 1,000 yards in hun- 
dreds and arrive at the number of inches of cor- 
rection, which will be closer than any one can hold 
at the ranges stated; and we get the following 
results : 

144 



WINDAGE AND ATMOSPHERE 







Actual 








Correction, 


Error, 


Yards 


Inches 


inches 


inches 


200 


2X 2 — 4 


2.90 


+ 1.1 


300 


3X 3= 9 


7.40 


+ 1.6 


400 


4X 4= 16 


13.92 


+ 2.08 


500 


5X 5— 25 


22.20 


+ 2.80 


600 


6 X 6 = 36 


33.60 


+ 2.40 


700 


7X 7= 49 


47.60 


+ 1.40 


800 


8 X 8 = 64 


64.00 





1,000 


10 x 10 = 100 


106.80 


— 6.80 



Likewise, by rough estimate, we may take a re- 
duction in allowance as follows: For a wind 
blowing from 10 o'clock instead of 9, deduct % 
or 25 per cent, from the amount of deflection, and 
for an 11 o'clock wind deduct still another *4 or 
50 per cent., remembering, however, that for each 
change of windage from -the lateral we must 
either add or subtract a certain amount from our 
elevation according to whether the wind is head 
on or following about % of one minute of angle 
for each 10 inches added or subtracted from the 
result obtained for a 9 o'clock or 3 o'clock wind. 
Roughly speaking, the allowances for vertical er- 
ror are rarely used on game, the error in estima- 
tion of distance being greater than we can allow 
for. 

So we may safely take the average allowances 
for a fair breeze at 10 miles per hour and either 
add or subtract from that amount for variation 

145 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

in direction and, in the case of the 1905 U. S. 
Government sight or the 48 Lyman receiver sight, 
divide by four and obtain the points of wind al- 
lowance. 



10 




20 



5 Miles 



10 Miles 





15 Miles 20 Miles 

FIGURE 52. WIND FLAGS INDICATING STRENGTH OF WIND IN 
MILES PER HOUR 

Otherwise, a breeze that causes the clouds to 
move slowly is about 10 miles per hour, and 
will wave grass lightly or carry smoke below the 
horizontal. One that moves the clouds percepti- 
bly and causes grass to ripple or smoke to carry 
to the horizontal is about 15 miles per hour, 

146 



WINDAGE AND ATMOSPHERE 

while, with a 20-mile wind, we find clouds moving 
with moderate speed and smoke disappearing 
shortly after rising, the grass not rippling but 
steadily laid over at the top. 

These are, of course, only rough indications, 
but may serve to help our judgment as to ve- 
locity of wind, but nothing except practice and 
constant observation will give a man the ability 
to estimate wind properly. 

Then, too, we may judge the drift of very light 
airs by the heat wave above the ground, known 
as mirage. This is a condition of the atmosphere 
when the earth has absorbed a greater amount of 
heat than is contained for the moment by the 
air and when there is not sufficient movement or 
clarity of the atmosphere in immediate contact 
with the ground in this condition to absorb or 
carry away the radiation, which may then be ob- 
served boiling or gently swaying or moving at 
an almost imperceptible rate above the earth's 
surface. A good illustration commonly occurs 
on looking along a straight stretch of railroad 
with either sand or rock ballast on a hot day, 
when this wavering of the atmosphere will be 
clearly seen to distort the straight line of the 
metals. This rarely occurs with any wind of 10 

14ft 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

miles per hour or better, but with the gentle 
drift of light breeze is apt to make a very bad 
mess of shooting at long range, especially over 
sandy desert or sunbaked range that has become 
heated. This heat wave makes the objective ap- 
pear to move upwards and towards the direction 
of the drift and it is generally a good plan to hold 
nearer the edge of the objective in the direction 
from which the heat wave is coming. 

In nearly all conditions of mirage there comes 
a lull or let-up — a hole as it is called — when the 
objective is clearly seen. If possible, it is best 
to wait for that and then get the shot away 
before the mirage flow begins again. 

The use of colored lenses minimizes the effect 
of the visible wave to some extent and I have 
found the color known as Cook's shade No. 1 
the best, as it cuts off the heat rays to some ex- 
tent as does pale amber of the shade known as 
Rifleite. A glass of pale Viridia color will also 
aid but when all is said and done the plan that 
seems most effective is to wait. 

While we may find fault and blaspheme at 
mirage for our misses, we should not forget that 
it is one of the most valuable indicators of the 
air drift when we cannot see any change in other 

148 





FIGURE 53. MIRAGES AS SEEN THROUGH COACHING TELE- 
scope: above, mirage boiling upward to 
right; below, mirage flowing to right 



WINDAGE AND ATMOSPHERE 

external factors and many a match has been 
won by a good mirage man at the coaching tele- 
scope who can anticipate the change of condition 
from the indication given and so correct the 
sights of his team in time to save a bad break 
in the score. Pale red or pinkish violet will ac- 
centuate the heat ray and a shade on telescope 
eyepiece will magnify the boil made by mirage. 
While on the subject of light it may be well to 
touch on colored glasses for general use. No 
absolute rules can be laid down as to the color 
most suitable for each man, but I am inclined 
to think that brown eyes are more affected by the 
red rays and pale blue or gray by the blue ray. 
Therefore, it would seem logical to employ a 
shade of glass to cut the red ray for the brown- 
eyed man and one to cut the chemical ray for 
the blue eye. 

Thus we should use amber in one of its shades 
for dark eyes and pale Viridia or Cook's lens 
for light eyes. The main object of colored lenses, 
however, is to reduce the glare caused by the 
blue sky and light colored clouds and so minimize 
the contrast of color, for it has been found that 
a level light or monochrome will increase the 
acuity of vision, and will make the darker ob- 

149 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

jects stand out more clearly on account of lack 
of contrast in light value. Of course each 
shooter should have glasses to correct his sight 
to normal, especially if astigmatized, and if 
glasses are used in the tropics it is a good plan 
to coat them with glycerin and wax or a prepara- 
tion made in France known as Lasin, which 
comes in soft pencils and may be applied to both 
surfaces of the lenses and then wiped off. This 
is a similar preparation to that used on the eye 
pieces of gas masks in our Army and will pre- 
vent condensation for a considerable period. It 
is also a good plan to use a bandage across the 
forehead which prevents the perspiration from 
running down on the glasses. 

The effect of barometric pressure on the bul- 
let is as follows: The lighter the air the less 
resistance to the bullet and hence a high shot. 
The reverse is also true of heavy atmosphere, re- 
quiring more elevation. This accounts, I think, 
for a good many misses with a rifle sighted at sea 
level and shot subsequently in a higher altitude. 
Then, too, the effect of high altitude on one ac- 
customed to live at sea level is to increase the 
heart action and for some little time will affect 
the nervous system. A good general rule is to 

150 



WINDAGE AND ATMOSPHERE 

correct for each inch of barometric pressure, 
which is equal to about 900 feet in altitude, one- 
eighth minute of angle for each 100 yards range; 
plus or minus taking thirty inches barometric 
pressure as normal. 

With temperature we find that with an in- 
crease we get higher shots and a decrease lower. 
So taking 60° Fahrenheit as normal we can cal- 
culate that for each 15° increase or decrease in 
temperature from 60° Fahrenheit we must either 
add or subtract % of one minute of angle for each 
100 yards, or, roughly speaking, one-inch in- 
crease or decrease in barometric pressure from 
80 inches is equal to % of an angle of elevation, 
while 15° Fahrenheit increase or decrease from 
60° Fahrenheit is equal to the same or % of one 
minute of angle for each 100 yards. The method 
is, I know, not absolutely accurate for scientific 
purposes, but it will give the changes needed 
to correct the sighting for altitude and tempera- 
ture sufficiently to assure good shooting at 
game. 

It is a good plan to correct your sighting for 
the most commonly used range at the general 
altitude and temperature at which you expect to 
shoot. 

151 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

The question of light resolves itself into a 
simple problem: 

If the range is unknown and the objective 
stands out clear and bright it will appear nearer 
than it really is, as in high clear atmosphere, so 
we underestimate the distance and undershoot; 
while if the light is dull and gray the objective 
seems apparently further away and we there- 
fore overshoot. Hence the old saying of "Light 
up, sights up — light down, sights down." Now 
this does not hold good when we are shooting at 
a target at known ranges and holding at 6 o'clock 
under the bull, for here we have impressed on 
our mind's eye the color value of the strip of 
white seen below the bull and with clear defini- 
tion of the target a smaller amount will give 
equal color value to almost twice that amount 
of poorly illuminated surface, and I have there- 
fore found that inasmuch as one holds lower 
on the target to get the color value on a gray day, 
just so much will he have to raise his sights to 
strike in the center of the bull; while, of course, 
the reverse is true in the case of a clear white 
target. 

I have tried this theory out many times and 
with targets painted different degrees of gray 

152 



WINDAGE AND ATMOSPHERE 

drab below the bull and have found that it 
works out in practice perfectly. 

It will be readily seen that with higher alti- 
tudes and increased velocity for given ranges we 
get greater striking force but inasmuch as the 
external atmospheric pressure is less on the bar- 
rel we also get less resistance in the breech. 

Whether the amount of strain given the metal 
is negligible or not I am not sure, but of this I 
am certain that, in machine guns for airplane 
work, allowance should be made for these factors 
both as to sights and breech mechanism. 

The saturation of the air with moisture also 
affects the flight of the bullet, a dry light air 
giving more friction and a damp condition less, 
for the dampness seems to act as a lubricant. 

This condition should be allowed for by a 
change of about one minute of angle in eleva- 
tion increase or decrease as required for each 500 
yards, with abnormal conditions. It is negligi- 
ble, however, below that range. 



CHAPTER XIII 

JUDGMENT OF DISTANCE 

The judgment of distance, and therefore the 
estimation of range, may be roughly determined 
by two methods — by eye, the application of a 
fixed standard and the application thereto of 
fixed objects, and by ear, or calculation of the 
time it takes sound to travel a certain distance. 

In the field, ranges are determined in prac- 
tically all cases by the judgment of distance — 
by eye. It will be found not difficult to apply 
distances marked and fixed for target practice 
to the general landscape. Take a minimum dis- 
tance as 100 yards, that should be fixed very 
firmly in the mind and should be used, if I may so 
say, as a yard stick, to be laid down so many 
times from the position occupied by the shooter 
to the objective. In preliminary practice, this 
estimation of distance should be verified by pac- 
ing, if possible. 

A standard measure of 100 yards is taken be- 
cause it adapts itself more easily to the average 

154 



JUDGMENT OF DISTANCE 

man, and, also, because rear sights are gradu- 
ated in 100 yards or multiples thereof; and if 
graduated by Vernier or micrometer readings, 
we generally say so many minutes of angle are 
equal to so many hundred yards. 

The visibility of the figure of the objective 
makes a great difference in the apparent dis- 
tance. The greater the visibility, the nearer the 
object seems; as does a vivid contrast between 
the objective and background. And, so, we may 
take the old saying of, "Target stands up equals 
sights up, target down, sights down," as our rule ; 
and we will make but small mistake. Then, too, 
distance may be calculated by the visibility of a 
man's features and portions of his dress. A 
man's features and face are clearly seen at 100 
yards, his face but not features at 500 yards. A 
rifle held away from the body at 700 yards, and 
the general outline of figure at 1,000 yards. If 
we apply this to game, we will find that the eye, 
ear and nostrils are seen at distances under 100 
yards, the horns and outline of the head are dis- 
tinctly visible up to 300, but beyond that we 
merely get general contour of the animal, unless 
he is standing against the skyline or presents a 
marked contrast to the background. 

155 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

When shooting over a depression or valley, it 
will be noted that the objective seems farther 
away. Down hill, the object will appear nearer, 
and up hill, farther off than it really is. Added 
to this the tendency to overshoot down hill and 
to undershoot up hill may also be accounted for 
by the angle at which the force of gravity acts 
upon the bullet in relation to its line of flight; if 
more acute towards the point it will accelerate 
the speed of the bullet, and if more acute to- 
wards the base, will retard. For elevation de- 
pends on horizontal distance of objective. We 
therefore find that down-hill shots are of less dis- 
tance horizontally than those on a level and will 
require less elevation. I think that the tendency 
of down-hill shots is for the shooter not to place 
his face closely enough to the cheek of the stock, 
and he will therefore overshoot. 

A very easy way of computing distance 
by the comparison of various objects is within 
certain limitations accurate enough, but we 
must first have a standard absolutely defined 
upon which to base our judgment of com- 
parison. Now, obviously the object most often 
seen is man himself, and the average height is 
about 5 feet 8 inches ; but we must compare this 

156 




—312 Yds, 



-* 624 

936 



FIGURE 54. JUDGMENT OF DISTANCE BY COMPARISON WITH 
HEIGHT OF FRONT SIGHT 



157 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

object with some definite measure in order to 
know how far away it is. The one standard 
always at hand to measure by is the front sight 
of the rifle. Now, this front sight is always 
at the same distance from the eye when aiming 
and so if we employ the height of the front sight 
in the manner of a stadia measure, in comparison 




225 Yds 



FIGURE 55. 



JUDGMENT OF DISTANCE BY COMPARISON WITH 
BORE OF 30-CALIBER RIFLE 



with the height of a man, we can arrive at some 
fairly accurate estimate of the distance the figure 
is away. For example, the height of a man 
equals 68 inches, the front sight of a U. S. 
Springfield Rifle Model 1903 above the movable 
stud is 15/64ths of an inch. The distance from 
this front sight to the eye in normal aiming posi- 
tion is 35 inches, and, therefore, we find that on 
looking through the rear sight, a man's figure 
will correspond to the height of the front sight 

158 



JUDGMENT OF DISTANCE 

at 312 yards, to one-half the height at 624, and 
to one-third at 936. By comparison of the 
height of any game at the shoulder to the height 
of a man, we can easily estimate the range. 

We may also take it for granted that the width 
of the top of the front sight is equal to the width 
of a man's face, or 12 inches at 300 yards. This, 
then, would mean that at 600 yards, the width of 
the sight is equal to about 24 inches, the width 
of a man's shoulders. 

Another dodge which may be found useful in 
the estimation of distance is to remove the bolt 
from the rifle and look through the barrel; since 
the bore is equal to 3/10ths of an inch, we find 
that a man will just equal its diameter at 225 
yards. 

But in the field, it seems safer to rely on the 
yard-stick method of the distance most easily 
fixed in mind, and no pains should be spared to 
train the shooters to the accurate conception of 
distance on every possible occasion. 



CHAPTER XIV 

POSITION 

Position may be defined as using the body as 
a support to hold the piece in the most advan- 
tageous manner to secure accuracy. Otherwise 
the body is the gun carriage and mechanism by 
which the rifle is aimed at the object. 

Now an absolute rule cannot be laid down as 
the conformation of each individual differs, so 
must the absolute position be modified and the 
body be adapted to the nearest approach to the 
position found the most practical and comfort- 
able for the average man. More definite instruc- 
tion can be given in the standing or off-hand posi- 
tion as to the proper position of the head, for the 
instructor can then see what faults are committed 
by the shooter as to canting the piece, the quick 
jerk of the trigger as opposed to the even smooth 
pull, the shutting of the eyes, the flinching, etc. 

Off-hand position should be, feet planted 
firmly, not too close together, left foot advanced 
about 18 inches, ball of foot in same line as heel 

160 




figure 56. offhand position of american rifleman 
(after chapman, 1848) 



POSITION 

of the right. Shoulders turned about three- 
quarters to the right, the weight slightly more 
on the left foot. 

The rifle should be grasped in both hands, left 
arm about one-half extended, left elbow under 
the piece, right hand grasping small of stock 
firmly, right thumb extended forward along the 
right side of stock, right forefinger engaging the 
trigger on second joint; right elbow at not more 
than 90 degrees from body. The heel of the rifle 
should be pressed well into the hollow between 
shoulder and chest but held low enough to pre- 
vent the butt striking the collar bone on recoil. 
Left eye should be closed and head carried for- 
ward and down to the right until right eye is in 
line of sight; right cheek pressing the comb of 
stock firmly, in order that the piece shall be sup- 
ported mainly by the left hand, shoulder, and 
cheek. 

The reason for placing left foot forward and 
throwing the weight thereon, is to allow the body 
to act as recoil check, which is done by the auto- 
matic shifting of the weight by recoil of gun to 
right foot. 

Sitting Position. — Face half right and assisted 
by the left hand and the butt of the rifle sit down 

161 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

facing slightly to the right. The left leg is di- 
rected forward to the target, the right leg, at 
about 45 degrees to the right, both heels firmly 
placed on the ground ; it is best to dig small holes 
with the heels to insure firmness; the knees well 
apart but the right kept somewhat higher than 
the left. 

The left arm is rested on the left knee, the el- 
bow in front of the patella, as in the kneeling 
position, the right upper arm outside of the back 
of the elbow point on the inside of the right leg 
back of the knee. 

This position may, of course, be varied to suit 
the individual, but in the main the above will be 
found suitable. 

Care should be taken to choose the seat, if 
possible, with the body slightly higher than the 
heels and to be sure that there are no grass 
twigs, etc., intervening between the shooter and 
his objective. 

The kneeling position, which is preferable to 
the sitting for a quick shot, is as follows : Drop 
on right knee, lower leg to the left, advance left 
foot about 20 inches in line with right knee, take 
same arm position as in off-hand save that the 
left arm outside and back of elbow point rests 

162 



POSITION 

on top of left knee just in front of knee-cap or 
patella. 

Prone Position. — Lie down, head to target, 
both legs swung well to the left, right elbow flat- 
tened to right and away from body, left forward 
and well under barrel of rifle. The butt should 
be held under the point of the shoulder and upon 
recoil should slide freely under the arm pit, thus 
preventing the undue shock and bruising of the 
shoulder. The gun sling may be employed as 
an aid to steady holding in two ways: First, 
pass the left arm through the forward loop of 
sling, tighten the keeper to keep the loop firmly 
above the left elbow, grasp stock with left hand 
strap, passing to right of left wrist, and by either 
moving the left hand forward or backward the 
pressure on the sling may be either diminished 
or increased; second, disregard the loop and 
adjust the sling for carrying over shoulder in easy 
position. With the piece held in right hand at 
small of stock muzzle, forward pass left arm 
across between sling and stock to right, then pass 
left hand under sling and to left and grasp the 
rifle with left hand in front of trigger guard and 
magazine plate. The sling should pass to the 
left of the upper arm and to the right of the f ore- 

163 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

arm. This method is the one most quickly and 
easily employed and is also the position most 
readily disengaged from. 

There is still another method of employing the 
sling when firing over a parapet or sand bag rest. 
The sling is detached from the butt swivel, the 
strap held tightly in the left hand, the rifle rested 
at or just back of the forward swivel on the sand 
bag or soft earth parapet. Pressure is then 
exerted on the strap backwards and downward. 
This will force the butt of the rifle against the 
shoulder. If this method of hold is employed 
it should be remembered that the flip of the rifle 
against the rest will amount to some 70 yards 
rise in 600 yards, or practically the sights should 
be lowered about 10 per cent, of the estimated 
range. 

The above directions, while written from a 
purely military point, are easily applied in the 
field when the conformation of the ground per- 
mits. 

I have found that for sporting purposes, the 
standing and sitting positions are the ones most 
generally used; in fact, I have found it impossi- 
ble to employ the prone position except at long 
ranges in the mountains for sheep or goat, grass 

16* 



POSITION 

and underbrush generally interfering with a view 
of the object. 

Unless the game is within moderate sporting 
range, say under 200 yards, the use of a tree or 
log will steady the rifle wonderfully, especially 
after a long climb, but care should be taken to put 
a cap or glove between the barrel of the rifle and 
the rest used, or a high shot will result, as with 
the sand bag rest. 

Above all the position should not be cramped 
nor should the muscles be held under strong ten- 
sion, as a tremor will occur. 



CHAPTER XV 

AIMING AND TRIGGER SQUEEZE 

To have a constant error of aim, which every 
one has to a greater or less degree and is known 
as "personal error" or "personal factor," we 
should be absolutely sure to see the same amount 
of front sight in the same position with regard 
to the rear sight for every shot; unless this is 
done it is impossible to know whether the fault 
lies with sights or with the method of application. 

The aiming exercise as set down in the Small 
'Arms Firing Manual, using the small movable 
disk for the objective and making a triangle with 
three shots, will show the shooter what his aver- 
age error is (see Appendix III). If the 
greater dimension of the triangle is vertical then 
we see either too much or too little front sight, 
while if it be lateral, we are sighting through 
one side or other of the rear aperture. It makes 
no difference what error we make in sighting, for 
if we do it exactly the same each shot, we can 
then correct the alignment of sights to allow for 

166 



AIMING AND TRIGGER SQUEEZE 

our personal error, but it will be readily seen 
that we must have the personal error made as 
nearly a constant factor as possible to make any 
sort of accurate correction mechanically. 

Likewise, if we tip the sight either right or 
left, we will find that it acts exactly the same as 
moving our elevation and wind on the rear sight. 
This fault is known as canting the rifle, and a 
movement of the sight either to the right or left 
of the vertical will cause the shots to strike lower 
and to the side to which the sight is canted. 

Deviation of Point of Impact Caused by Canting the Rifle 
10° ; Drift and Flip Not Counted 



Range, 


Lateral Error, 


Vertical Error 


yards 


inches 


inches 


200 


1.4 


negligible 


300 


4.2 


.125 


500 


13.5 


.25 


600 


20. 


.75 


800 


42. 


2.50 


1,000 


70. 


6.00 



This is one reason for the necessity of the posi- 
tion of the forearm as nearly vertical as possible 
for support to the rifle, for it will lessen the tend- 
ency for the muscles to turn the rifle to make the 
grip of the left hand more comfortable. 

The trigger squeeze or pull should be gradu- 
ally increased by the right forefinger so that the 
point of aim will not be disturbed until the shot 

167 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

is fired ; then, of course, we get the vibration im- 
parted to the barrel mechanically by the fall of 
the hammer which will be found to be almost as 
great as the movement of the barrel by the explo- 
sion of the cartridge which affects the point of 
aim even more than the latter, for it has been 
found that the true vibration of the barrel caused 
by the explosion of the cartridge does not occur 
until the bullet has left the muzzle of the rifle. 
What does take place is a gradual bending of 
the bore in a vertical plane from the breech to 
the muzzle caused by the support of the barrel, 
action, stock and shoulder being below the axis of 
the bore. The regularity of this curve is broken 
if a solid support be placed between the action 
and the muzzle, and a double wave of curve is 
formed which will explain why a rifle will shoot 
higher from a rest than from the shoulder. The 
downward curve from the action to the muzzle 
is interrupted and reversed by the rest, causing a 
high instead of a low shot. 

This curve is also affected laterally by the re- 
sistance of the rifling to the bullet. 

The recoil acting on a line of the axis of the 
bore, with the shoulder as a fixed rest below the 
line of recoil, will tend to pivot the gun on the 

168 



AIMING AND TRIGGER SQUEEZE 

shoulder and lift the muzzle, which is the reason 
we should employ a firm grip with the left hand 
to prevent this. 




FIGURE 57. TREMOR OF SIGHT (a) AND WAVER OF SIGHT- 
ING (b) 

In the bringing of the sights into line with 
the objective we can divide the movement into 
two distinct phases. The preliminary waver of 
the front sight while the shooter is trying to find 
the objective, and the tremor of sight while en- 

169 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

deavoring to hold the front sight on the mark. 
Both are necessarily present but may be mini- 
mized to a great extent. The first is purely a 
mental error and is known as "fishing for the 
bull." Decide where you want to aim on either 
animal or target and put the front sight on that 
spot. A good illustration of what I mean oc- 
curred in one of our National Rifle Association 
school-boy shoots in New York. One small chap 
was talking over the trouble he had in seeing the 
bull's-eye, when a colored boy chimed in with 
the remark, "De muzzle of your rifle was sure 
moving some. I done think you was trying to 
wind up a clock wid it." 

Look at the objective, bring the rifle up into 
line, look through the rear sight and put the front 
sight where you want it. Don't hesitate, don't 
try for a second aligmnent unless you put the 
gun down from your shoulder, and go through 
the process once more; game will not stand still 
indefinitely. 

The second aberration of sight is that which 
occurs when the front sight had been placed on 
the mark and the shooter is trying to hold it 
there while he pulls the trigger. This move- 
ment is caused either by muscular involuntary 

170 



AIMING AND TRIGGER SQUEEZE 

tremor or by the pulsation of the heart. The 
muscular waver is generally caused by the in- 
frequent use of the muscles employed in hold- 
ing the gun; they are not sufficiently trained by 
exercise to hold the strain of the gun even for 
the moment of pulling the trigger. The only 
way to overcome this is to train the muscles until 
they do become accustomed to the position, and 
the twitch and tremor cease. 

It is a good plan to have a rifle in one's bed- 
room and a small target affixed to the wall some 
15 feet away. Every morning and evening put 
the rifle up on the mark, hold it there and pull 
the trigger on an empty cartridge case or dummy. 
It is surprising how even five minutes spent thus 
every day will improve your hold. 

Then, too, the muscles will become accustomed 
to the various positions and no difficulty will be 
found on the range; but it must be done regu- 
larly. 

The tremor or bump caused by the pulse and 
imparted to the rifle may be partially avoided 
by inhaling and holding the breath during the 
moment of trigger pull. This will make the 
pulse more regular, not so jumpy. 

When using the sling, this heart movement is 
171 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

most noticeable as the veins of the upper arm 
impart the throb to the tight sling which is in 
turn transmitted to the rifle barrel. It may be 
minimized by the application of a bandage to the 
left upper arm, put on tightly enough to de- 
crease the blood flow, but it should be removed 
after firing and the arm well rubbed to restore 
circulation. This is, of course, impossible to do 
in the field and I therefore do not advise the 
use of a very tight sling with loop of military 
pattern. 

The general rule to follow is to have the mus- 
cles rigid enough to ensure steady hold, but not 
sufficiently tense to cause tremor; and not to 
have the sling so tight that it transmits the pulsa- 
tion of the heart unduly. 

The gradual application of force generally 
recommended in military target shooting is the 
outcome of the heavy pull required for the double 
pull on our military arms; — for a fairly heavy 
pull of three or four pounds, there seems an ex- 
cuse; for the take up and secondary pull, none; 
it only teaches a man to play with the trigger and 
interferes perceptibly with a quick clean shot. It 
helps to make a man poke and wait for the shot 
to go off and should never be seen on a sporting 

in 



AIMING AND TRIGGER SQUEEZE 

rifle. A pull of sufficient weight, to insure 
against the accidental discharge of the piece by- 
jar of a blow on the butt, or a fall, depends more 
on the shape of the sear-tail than on the weight 
of pull. 

Above all, in shooting at game, don't dwell and 
poke; it only encourages indecision and clumsy- 
trigger work with the fingers. Put your front 
sight on the part of the game you wish to hit, and 
fire; only waiting long enough to insure the 
proper alignment of sights and pressing the trig- 
ger in a manner to give the least possible disturb- 
ance to the front sight. The latter is best ob- 
tained by a gradual contraction of thumb and 
forefinger, applying the pressure as if squeezing 
the last drop of water from a sponge, so that the 
shot will be discharged without perceptible 
spasmodic movement of the trigger finger. 



CHAPTER XVI 

STALKING AND COVER 

The getting within most advantageous range 
for the shot at game is really the whole pleasure 
and excitement of shooting. It is very unsports- 
manlike to take long chances probably wounding 
some poor brute in order to spare the sportsman 
who is too lazy or too ignorant to try to get closer. 
Colonel Roosevelt, Sir F. J. Jackson, Cunning- 
hame, Selous, Akeley, and many other sportsmen 
with whom I have talked over the matter of 
range, all agree that the employment of the long 
range small-bore rifle to save the trouble of stalk- 
ing is about the surest evidence that such a man 
has no place in the great outdoors. One of our 
rifle authorities, so-called, has written of shooting 
antelope at 1,500 yards and of hitting them regu- 
larly. He may have shot at them, thereby 
stamping himself as unworthy to be called a 
sportsman, but I doubt if he hit many, for 
the antelope's measurement through the brisket 
is only 16 inches on the average, and at a range 

174 



STALKING AND COVER 

of 1,500 yards the animal would hardly be visible. 

It is generally conceded that 300 yards should 
be about the maximum range for a shot on the 
plains in the open. If you can't get nearer 
wait until the game moves and try again. Never 
shoot at the brown of an animal — always pick 
the spot you intend to hit with reference to the 
vital parts and hold for that. It is impossible 
to shoot with accuracy beyond the range given, 
for animals do not carry bull's-eyes painted on 
their sides to indicate the exact location of their 
hearts. Then, too, one must remember that the 
nearer one gets for the shot the surer he is of 
putting the bullet where it will do the most good, 
and in the case of dangerous game, this is essen- 
tial and will save many a charge, for one well 
placed shot is worth any amount of badly aimed 
ones. It is a good plan to approach and keep 
on approaching the game as long as it is unaware 
of your presence. Of course, the approach 
should be upwind, if possible, or at any rate 
across wind — never down, for if a herd or single 
animal starts, it will generally run or charge, if 
it means business, upwind towards the direction 
in which the danger lies. 

I have seen native trackers pull the feathery 
175 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

grass heads, and, during a stalk on elephants, 
toss a few shreds into the air to see which 
way the wind blows. If the ringer is wet 
and held up, the current of the air will be felt 
cooler on the side from which it is blowing. 
Then, too, every advantage should be taken that 
is possible of cover, scrub, grass, hillocks and 
trees; the shooter should look over the ground 
and map out his route of approach and then work 
from cover to cover. Crawling face down when 
necessary and remaining absolutely stationary 
when the animal raises its head, only advancing 
when it is seen that the head of the quarry is 
turned in another direction. 

It is a good plan when crossing a bare or open 
space to hold a branch in front of your face or in 
front of your head if crawling; then if a look has 
to be taken at the game the head should be lifted 
slowly behind the branch, the look taken and 
crawl resumed with the branch held as before. 

Sometimes, especially on the first snow on cari- 
bou barrens, a white coat and cap will be found 
of advantage. As regards clothes, the best tip is 
to take the idea of camouflage from the game it- 
self and to follow the same scheme of protective 
coloration. 

176 



STALKING AND COVER 

In our shooting here in America in the woods 
one hears of long shots being taken. I doubt 
if 10 per cent, of the moose are killed farther than 
100 yards, while for deer 60 yards would be a 
closer estimate. Long shots over water at 
moose, or across a gulch or canon at sheep or 
goat, may sometimes be permitted if no nearer 
approach can be made, but one should study the 
habits of the game and the general character of 
the ground thoroughly before starting on a trip. 
If this is done it will save a lot of misses and a 
lot of needless suffering of wounded game. En- 
ergy and velocity are not to help the lazy man 
with long shots, but to give the smashing blow 
needed to kill and to do it neatly. Above all do 
not shoot merely to kill, but have some object in 
view: meat for camp or a really good head. 

A telescope is of little value, being too clumsy 
and hard to use. I have never seen any one 
handle one properly save a few deer stalkers on 
a Scotch hill, and that is generally a leisurely 
proceeding. Binoculars are far better. Those 
of eight power are about right to pick out good 
heads with and will save a lot of shoe leather and 
cuss words, for I know of nothing more exasper- 
ating than to find out that the head you have 

177 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

been stalking for an hour or more is not worth 
shooting. 

In using glasses to locate game, it is best to 
look for some object slightly differing in outline 
from the surroundings. Game is hard to pick 
out in the bush and the general contour of an 
animal is more readily discernible than the dif- 
ference in color. I remember a case with a big 
bull giraffe near the Isiolo River in Africa. I 
had seen him at a distance to be much larger than 
the rest of the herd and had vainly endeavored 
to stalk him for two days. He was so big I de- 
termined to have him, and on the morning of the 
third day found him in a clump of table-topped 
mimosa trees. The stalk began and for over an 
hour in the sun at 10 a. m., temperature near 
110°, I crawled, wriggled and struggled to a 
bunch of grass about 80 yards away from where 
I had seen the bull. I raised my head and to my 
astonishment he had disappeared. "He's gone," 
I said to my Somali gun-bearer. "Hapana, 
twiga hapa, Bwana" ("No, the giraffe is 
there") , whispered he, and passed me my glasses. 
Sure enough there he was back a few yards in 
the edge of the trees. I looked to my rifle, the 
465 Cordite, intending to take a sitting shot and 

178 



STALKING AND COVER 

be sure of his shoulder. When I looked up I 
could not see him. Finally, after two further at- 
tempts I decided to stand up and shoot as he 
moved. This I did, and he lurched forward and 
stood in the open, the first shot being well placed 
back of his shoulders. 

We ran up to him and I gave him another 
while he staggered there. Suddenly the gun- 
bearer pulled my arm. "Look out Bwana he 
falls," and sure enough he crashed down, his head 
within 10 feet of me. He was of the species 
Reticulata Rothschilds, the netted giraffe ; he was 
a dark chestnut with white net-work markings 
and measured 19 feet, 3 inches, a world's record. 
While he stood in the light and shadow with the 
sun shining through the branches on him, I could 
not for the life of me make out where to shoot, 
he blended so perfectly with the surroundings. 

I mention this to show how even a big animal 
at close quarters can be effectively camouflaged 
by color. 

Two methods, recognized as warrantable, that 
of floating in canoe and of calling in the rutting 
season, are employed in shooting moose. 
Neither requires special skill, except as to marks- 
manship, unless the shooter sculls his own canoe 

179 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

or does his own calling, both offices being gener- 
ally relegated to a guide. 

In floating, the canoe is gently sculled along a 
dead water or around the various points and 
coves of a lake and when a moose is seen, either 
in the water or on the bank, the guide sculls the 
canoe up to within shooting distance and the trick 
is done. 

With calling it is different, for the moose is 
enticed by an imitation of a cow moose's call 
when bulling and answers from some distance 
generally; the call of the cow is repeated by the 
guide and the bull answers again. It is not diffi- 
cult to get a bull to come, but the real art is to 
make him show in the open ; then the caller is put 
to every device known to deceive the animal, giv- 
ing low plaintive and pleading grunts, rubbing 
the birch bark horn, through which he calls 
against the bushes in imitation of another bull 
thrashing his horns, pouring water through the 
horn on the ground or in the lake in imitation of a 
cow urinating, in fact practicing all the arts of 
cajolery and seduction he can imagine, to bring 
the bull into view. As a rule, the bull will come 
to the edge of the timber or thicket, and will 
then try to circle and get the shooter's wind, and 

180 



STALKING AND COVER 

if he once surmises something wrong, will move 
off quickly. Sometimes it is a good plan to have 
the guide retire quietly in the opposite direction 
to which the bull is approaching and to call softly 
at short intervals ; the bull will then come out to 
follow the cow who he thinks is receding and give 
a clear shot. In Maine the guides used to call 
in the night, choosing calm moonlight ones, but 
in Canada they generally call in early morning or 
late in the afternoon for the moose prefers to do 
his love-making at night and you are more apt to 
catch him en route at these times. 

The edge of an open bog or point in a stream 
or deadwater is generally chosen as the place for 
calling and a rough blind is hastily constructed. 
The shooter then proceeds to call and listen for 
an answer. Sometimes he draws blank and again 
may have two or even three bulls coming at once. 
The rut generally begins on the moon after the 
middle of September and lasts about a fortnight 
or three weeks. The essentials of success are 
calm clear weather with sharp frosty nights. 

A description of calling a moose may not be 
out of place. In October, 1903, the 12th, I be- 
lieve, ideal weather conditions prevailed on my 
preserve on the upper Patapedia River, Quebec, 

181 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

Canada. The night had been cold and the leaves 
and bushes were covered with white frost. Leav- 
ing camp before sunrise, I walked with my guide, 
Harvey Miles, whom I employed for over 10 
years each fall for the moose hunting, about two 
miles to a bend in the river between two lakes 
known as the Slide, where there had been some 
old landings from previous lumbering operations. 
The leaves on birch and maple were full of aut- 
umn tints of yellow, gold, orange and vivid car- 
mine ; the air was perfectly still and carried sound 
a long distance. 

We commenced calling at about 6:30 and al- 
most immediately got an answer from a hill on 
the other side of the river at least two miles away. 
Waiting about 10 minutes, Harvey called again 
and again and received the answer — this time 
nearer. Again waiting, we heard the bull grunt 
on the other bank of the river back in the woods 
and shortly afterwards he crossed, still out of 
sight, but making a great deal of noise breaking 
the drift wood and dry stubs on the bank. The 
hillside on which I was waiting was covered with 
light second growth of birch and poplar with a 
few Prince's pines about twelve to fifteen feet 
high, and one could see through them some 80 

182 



STALKING AND COVER 

to 100 yards, and a bit farther, up the trail which 
ran along the crest of the hill parallel to the 
river. 

Suddenly all noise from the bull stopped and I 
thought he had turned back, but evidently he was 
only standing, listening and watching. Pres- 
ently the faint snapping of twigs began again 
as he breasted the rise to the trail and he came into 
view. "God, he's a big one," whispered Har- 
vey, "plug him now." But I waited until he 
came to the trail. He was evidently circling to 
try and get our wind, and as he advanced through 
the birches, he tilted his head to right and left to 
get his horns between the trees easily. This ac- 
counted for the ability of a moose with a large 
spread being able to move through thick growth 
almost noiselessly, — a thing I had often won- 
dered at. As he came to the trail, about 80 
yards distant, I fired. He drew himself up 
stiffly, and I gave him the second barrel, when 
he fell. I was using a Holland 375 Cordite 
double rifle, and the bullet holes were only two 
inches apart, just back of the right shoulder. 
When we went up to him he was quite dead and 
in the cups of the palmation of his antlers the 
white frost shone out contrasting strongly with 

183 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

the rich brown of the horns. His spread, meas- 
ured as he fell, was 64% inches. 

I carefully weighed this moose after he was cut 
up and, allowing for losses of blood, etc., the 
nearest approximate weight I could arrive at 
was about 1,400 to 1,450 pounds. He was the 
biggest moose I have ever killed. Merrill says 
in his "Book of the Moose" : 

The best Quebec head described by Ward 
spread, when thoroughly dry, 62% inches. It 
has 14 plus 13 points, the breadth of palm is 14 
inches. This head was secured by Col. John Cas- 
well, an American (Massachusetts) sportsman, 
October 12, 1903. He was hunting on the Pata- 
pedia Lakes, Rimouski County, and the moose 
was brought from a distance of about two miles 
by a call in the early morning. Two shots from 
a .375 Holland double rifle, loaded with Cordite, 
effected the capture. 



CHAPTER XVII 

AIMS FOR VITAL POINTS ON GAME 

Where to hold on game to kill is a question 
that is often asked. In order to aim correctly 
a good knowledge of comparative anatomy is 
of great value, but from a casual knowledge of 
the position of the vital organs and the general 
scheme of the skeleton we may draw conclusions 
which will enable us to shoot to kill. 

The relative positions of brain, heart and 
lungs are similar in practically all mammals, 
while the bones of the skeleton are of the same 
general scheme. 

I found in 1910, just before leaving London 
for my first trip to Africa, that several mornings 
spent with a friend of mine, a surgeon, at the 
South Kensington Museum, helped me greatly 
in the field. We first looked at the skeletons of 
the various animals commonly encountered and 
my friend pointed out to me the position of the 
heart and lungs of each and then examined the 
mounted specimens and determined where the 

185 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

proper points of aim were for shots in different 
positions. I will try to show by a silhouette of 
the animals, with diagram of the skeleton and the 
positions of brain and heart indicated, where to 
shoot to reach these organs. 

First let me say that I have never known an 
animal to go down instantaneously and stay 
down unless hit in brain or spine, and these two 
present such small marks that it is unwise in 
ordinary circumstances to try for them. Better 
to try to break fhe power of locomotion, the 
shoulders, and if we do not manage to totally 
disrupt the bony formation our bullets will pass 
through the thorax which contains the heart and 
lungs. 

One point, which should be borne in mind, is 
not to consider the heart as the objective, but 
the fore shoulder farthest away from the shooter. 
This is my reason for advising such an amount 
of energy as 2,500 foot-pounds, for non-danger- 
ous game and 4,000 pounds, or over, for dan- 
gerous, at distances of 100 yards, for it takes a 
heavy blow to drive an expanded soft point bul- 
let through both shoulders and the heart and 
lungs. We will generally find that if the expan- 
sion has been sufficient the skin on the opposite 

186 




FIGURE 61. SIDE SHOT ON DEER; DIRECTIONS SAME AS FOR 

MOOSE. IF VERY SURE OF YOUR AIM, A SHOT AT THE BASE 

OF THE NECK TO BREAK THE SPINE MAY BE TRIED 



AIMS FOR VITAL POINTS ON GAME 

shoulder will act as an elastic bullet stop, and few 
if any bullets will leave the body. This is as it 
should be, for then the animal will receive the 
entire energy of the blow and none will be wasted 
by passing through. 

The old deer-stalking maxim of Lord Lovat 
is as good as any to follow. Sight on the fore 
leg of the animal nearest you and raise the point 
of aim until you see the front sight on the brown 
of the body and squeeze the trigger. This shot 
will be successful in the majority of cases, for 
nearly all our rifles will shoot high, as they are 
generally sighted to shoot into the center of the 
bull with the sights aligned at 6 o'clock. 

We will also find that the softer tissues will 
transmit the shock of the blow laterally in addi- 
tion to the force expanded forward to drive the 
bullet through, and so we will require our bullet 
to have force enough to carry the expanded point 
through bone and tissue, breaking and smashing 
everything on its way. Let us see what the 
average expansion of our bullets should be and 
what proportion of base and weight should re- 
main when the bullet reaches the skin on the far- 
ther side of the animal. 

As a rule with the lighter bullets and the nor- 
187 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

mal soft point furnished by the cartridge manu- 
facturers the expansion will be too great and 
there will not be weight enough left in the base 
to carry far enough into the animals. 

A properly proportioned bullet should expand 
two diameters and at least one-half of its length 
should remain intact back of the expanded point 
to carry on; while there should not be a loss of 
over 20 per cent, in actual weight. 






FIGURE 62, COMPARISON OF AMOUNT OP BASE REMAINING OF 
EXPANDED, SOFT-POINT, AND METAL-JACKETED BULLETS 

The tearing power of the bullet depends 
largely on the mechanical action of the ragged 
edges of the expanded and disrupted jacket. 

The claim made for the hollow-pointed bullet 
of explosive force, that it breaks up at least one- 
half the bullet, is only too well shown by the bul- 
lets cut from game of this type. I have re- 
cently seen two Ross 145-grain bullets cut from 
a grizzly in Cassiar in the fall of 1919 which 
show an expansion of nearly three-quarters of an 
inch but with the butt of hardly more than one- 

188 



AIMS FOR VITAL POINTS ON GAME 

sixteenth of an inch long, the whole remaining 
part of the bullet looking like a thickened shill- 
ing. The effects of the shots were as follows: 
Both hit the left fore shoulder blade and mush- 
roomed, breaking the bone, but not having pene- 
tration sufficient to reach heart and lungs, they 
glanced back into the lungs and viscera. The 
bear went down to the first shot, went down to 
the second, and was finished at about 20 yards 
with a shot in the neck ranging back under the 
spine, bearing out the fact that the velocity was 
too great for the weight and construction of the 
bullets and that a 180-grain bullet would have 
been more effective. 

So much for the average side-on shot. An- 
other shot very frequently encountered is the 
quartering shot from the flank forward. This 
is a very sure and deadly one. We should fol- 
low the same general idea as the shoulder shot, 
endeavoring to traverse the body diagonally and 
break the opposite fore shoulder. Care should 
be taken to hold in front of the haunch and if pos- 
sible aim for the spot just back of the ribs, re- 
membering that the goal of the bullet should be 
the shoulder diagonally opposite. 

As will be easily seen, the directions given for 
189 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

the two foregoing shots apply to game standing 
side to or moving across at right angles to the line 
of fire and to those running away ; both cases will 
give time for a second shot before the animal be- 
comes dangerous. 

When we are really called on to stop or turn 
an animal at close quarters we will find the head- 
on shot is nearly always presented. The frontal 
brain shot should rarely be attempted save at ele- 
phants, as the skull is presented at an acute angle 
and the bullets are apt to glance upward from the 
frontal bone and wound superficially. It is far 
better to hold for the left fore shoulder halfway 
up, when the heavy bullet will break the bone and 
stop the advance, or in the case of lion or bear 
for the point of the chin, holding low to enable 
the bullet to pass either through the lower jaw or 
below it, cutting the large blood vessels and 
breaking the spine. 

It is well to remember that the first shots 
usually presented are generally quartering and a 
careful aim will obviate further trouble, for a 
broken fore shoulder with a raking shot, tearing 
the large blood vessels, will either turn or drop 
the animal. An instance of where the shot de- 
scribed did not come off as anticipated is as fol- 

190 




FIGURE 63. SIDE SHOT ON MOOSE. THE SHOULDER SHOT 

SHOULD BE TRIED IN ALL CASES AND THE QUARTERING SHOTS 

AT SHOULDER AND FLANK SHOULD HAVE AS THEIR 

OBJECTIVE THE OPPOSITE FORE SHOULDER 



AIMS FOR VITAL POINTS ON GAME 

lows: In the fall of 1904 I had called a moose in 
the early morning and he had come up out of an 
alder swamp and stood facing me about 100 yards 
away, behind three dead cedars. He would not 
come farther and so I decided on the shoulder 
shot facing me. I fired twice and he wheeled and 
disappeared immediately in the bushes. On 
looking over the ground where we had stood I 
found plenty of blood and therefore waited about 
10 or 15 minutes, or three cigarettes' time, and 
proceeded to follow the blood trail through the 
alders, which were pretty thick. After trailing 
him about 400 yards I heard the moose breathing 
and as I turned the next bunch of alders saw him 
lying down, evidently pretty sick. At the same 
instant he jumped up, faced me and reared, in- 
tending to strike me with his fore feet, but two 
very quick shots in the upper chest turned him 
over backwards about 12 or 15 feet distant. 

On examination I found that my first two bul- 
lets had hit him, one merely cutting a gash along 
his side, the other hitting him just inside the 
point of the shoulder and following the muscles 
between the bone and the chest cavity and cutting 
the blood vessels but doing no serious damage, 
although half an inch either way would have 

191 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

dropped him, as the rifle was a 375 double Cor- 
dite. 

Here is one other instance of the flank shot 
quartering away. I had found a herd of eland 
on the Theba River, British East Africa, in 1911, 
and as there was a good head I tried to stalk them, 
but the country was too open and I could not get 
nearer than about 250 yards ; then, too, the cows 
were between me and the bull, so I decided to 
stand up and take the shot as the herd wheeled, if 
a chance presented itself. This I did. The herd 
lumbered away and I fired at the bull who lurched 
forward and disappeared with his companions in 
a nullah or dry water course. I went up and 
found that he was dead about 75 yards from 
where he was hit, the bullet entering his left flank 
and ranging forward diagonally to the right fore 
shoulder which was broken. This was a running 
shot, at about 300 yards, which I paced. I was 
using a Springfield 30-caliber rifle with a soft- 
pointed bullet of 165 grains weight. The eland 
is the largest of African antelopes, weighing, I 
should judge, even more than a full-grown Jersey 
bull, and the little bullet had done the trick once 
more. 

An instance of the spine shot at close quarters 
192 



AIMS FOR VITAL POINTS ON GAME 

occurred on the Athi River in 1910, and I cannot 
illustrate the shot better than quoting from my 
shooting diary written at the time. Percival was 
my white hunter and had been with Colonel 
Roosevelt for lion and with Prince Arthur and 
the Princess Patricia of Connaught just before 
he came with me on my first trip. The following 
is taken from my diary: 

Tuesday, December 6, 1910. Stony Athi 
River; Temp. max. 98°, min. 66°. Started Sa- 
fari at 6:45 a. m. from Tom Deacon's Zebra 
ranch, rode over Athi plains. P. suggested I 
had better try the 465 on Kongoni and 
Zebra as I had never used the rifle on game. 
Killed 2 Kongoni (Cokes Hartebeste), 1 Zebra 
(Burchells), when an Askari [soldier] came 
running up saying that the Neampara [head 
man] had sent him back with word that 
they had seen 2 lions in a douga and had 
halted the Safari and was watching. Left 
one gun-bearer with Kongoni and Zebra and 
rode about two miles, gun-bearers holding on 
to stirrup leathers and ponies' tails. Got to Sa- 
fari which was drawn upon the bank of the dry 
bed of the Stony Athi. Men had been sent for- 
ward to watch, and they reported a lion and 
lioness still in the thorn scrub below. P. and I 
went on through the bushes for about one quarter 

193 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

of a mile and found lion and lioness under a thorn 
bush; fired one shot at lioness when she went 
down and the second barrel of the 375 at the lion 
as he ran away at about 40 yards ; hit him on the 
lower jaw, but he carried on. P. suggested we 
clean up the lioness who was growling and talk- 
ing to herself pretty vividly, so placed P. on 
upper side of slope and sent two Syces on ponies 
around far side of river bed to head her off if she 
broke away, and then went in; it seemed as if she 
would never move. Just as I was sure she was 
totally disabled, she reared up to charge straight 
for me. Percival yelled, "For God's sake — " 
he didn't get out the word shoot, for I fired, hit 
her in neck and broke spine, soft point 465, dis- 
tance 21 feet, went up, found first shot had hit 
too far back in shoulders. Measured 9 ft. 8^2, 
nice skin. Followed lion who was laid up about 
400 yards down river bed through scrub. About 
30 of the boys started on the far side of a clump 
of thorn bushes, and drove same formation, P. 
uphill and Syces beyond on ponies. I thought 
he had gone, but when the porters had driven al- 
most through the bush the lion jumped up, blood 
all over his mouth and mane, looked at me and 
roared, hit him twice with 375, both low and back, 
and as he turned gave him one with the 465 flank 
to shoulder, when he rolled over like a rabbit at 
about 50 yards. Great rejoicing, dance and 
shouting by the Safari! Two lions in 12 minutes 

194 



AIMS FOR VITAL POINTS ON GAME 

second day out. Had to eat some lion heart 
which Sodak, chief gun-bearer, a Somali, brought 
me. The natives think that if the Bwana will eat 
the heart of his first lion it will make him brave 
and so they are more willing to follow him. It 
tasted very catty and God knows all the question 
I asked myself while we were going in was, "Why 
have you gone to so much trouble and expense to 
get into a place you can't get out of?" But 
when all was over, and at lunch after several 
whisky pegs, lion shooting seemed the finest sport 
and the easiest thing in the world. Lion, 11 ft. 
1 in., small mane, first shot broke lower jaw and 
knocked out teeth; two more, 375, just back of 
shoulder and a bit high. Last shot, 465 soft 
point, hit just back of ribs on left side, tore fear- 
ful hole through chest, broke right fore shoulder, 
well expanded with plenty of butt left. 

With buffalo, the head shot should never be 
attempted as the boss of the horns forms a bony 
protection to the front of the skull, and if there is 
time, it is far better to drop on one knee and try 
for the shoulder at the base of the neck. This 
will generally turn the animal. One should use 
the heavy rifle for this game in all cases, and load 
with soft-point bullet in the right and solid in the 
left. 

195 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

The buffalo is a close second to the elephant as 
regards danger encountered in shooting, for both 
are met with in heavy brush or swamp grass, 
which makes it impossible for the shooter to move 
easily, while these obstacles offer little or no re- 
sistance to the animals themselves. I have been 
up against buffalo many times and of the five 
heads secured was charged at close quarters by 
three. 

On the Burgoret River, Kenia West, British 
East Africa in 1912, I had missed a shot in long 
grass in the morning and had rejoined the Safari 
just before reaching the camp site. Near the 
stream, suddenly my gun-bearer said: "Look, 
Bwana, buffalo!" and in the edge of the forest 
across the stream I could discern the shapes of a 
herd of buffalo in the distance. 

I immediately had all the porters drop their 
loads and lie down without noise or talking in the 
grass. I then crossed the stream and began the 
stalk. As I entered the thick bush I could just 
make out a fair bull at the end of a glade about 
100 yards farther in, and so I began to stalk this 
particular animal. 

I had come to within about 60 yards of him but 
the bush was too thick to get a clear view, so I 

196 



AIMS FOR VITAL POINTS ON GAME 

stepped to one side, evidently making a noise as I 
did so breaking a twig or some grass. At once 
another and larger bull got up from behind a log 
and stood looking at me not 20 yards away. I 
promptly fired both barrels just back of his shoul- 
der and he went down, all four legs in the air, and 
gave the peculiar groan which old hunters say is 
the buffalo's death song. As I went forward 
with empty rifle I suddenly felt myself pushed 
or pulled to one side and a cow buffalo rushed 
past me, her right horn tip just grazing my coat. 

I reloaded at once and as she turned to charge 
once more dropped her with the shoulder shot 
at very close quarters. 

My gun-bearer, Sodak, had pulled me to one 
side as he saw the cow coming, and undoubtedly 
saved my life. The bull was dead, and his horns, 
now in the Explorers Club, measure 43% inches. 

When I reported the cow to the game commis- 
sioner, for it is against the law to shoot females, 
old Sodak kept reiterating, "But the Bwana had 
to shoot the cow that time," and both Cunning- 
hame and Wooseman had a bit of fun speculating 
as to how many other cows I should have to ac- 
count for. The record head comes from Uganda 
and is 53 7 /g inches. It was shot by F. E. 

197 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

Knowles, the Lieutenant-Governor of the prov- 
ince. It was he who gave me the wonderfully- 
good photograph of Colonel Roosevelt which is 
now published for the first time as frontispiece 
to this volume. 

For hippo, one rarely has any but the head shot 
presented and that a very small mark, but a solid 
bullet well placed will penetrate sufficiently, as 
the skull is rather spongy in substance and the 
bone not so resistant as that of animals not living 
in the water. 

For rhino, we generally have the side shot at 
fairly close quarters and may either shoot for the 
neck or try the shoulder shot remembering the 
animal stands very low and that the heart and 
lungs are comparatively lower than with most 
animals. 

In case of a charge the head is so fully pro- 
tected by the horns that we are practically con- 
fined to a shot placed between the base of the 
neck and the shoulder and raking backwards and 
down, if he is close up. One should always em- 
ploy solid bullets and the heaviest rifle for this 
work. A rhino will generally make a straight 
charge which can be side-stepped except in heavy 
brush, when he is likely to make a sudden rush 

198 



AIMS FOR VITAL POINTS ON GAME 

and is at times difficult to avoid, but he may al- 
most always be turned by the neck shoulder front 
shot. His eyesight is not good, and as his horns 
are in the way, he depends almost entirely on 
scent to locate the danger ; as a rule, he is accom- 
panied by white egrets and the small rhino bird 
which feed on the ticks and insects which cover 
him. These birds will generally warn him of the 
shooter's approach and so one must stalk rather 
the sentinels than the rhino. When he first 
scents danger he will snort, throwing his nose 
into the air and stamping about as if trying to 
work his anger to a boiling point. Then gener- 
ally he will lift his tail in the air, urinate, and 
when he has located the danger and finished his 
war-dance, charge straight for the objective. 

I once had a small cow rhino charge five times 
through my Safari line and back. The porters 
dropped their loads and climbed the nearest trees, 
preferring the thorns they encountered to the 
chance of the rhino's horn; finally, after she had 
ripped a load of tents to pieces and a case of 
whisky had gone where it would not do any good, 
I took a hand and stopped the fun with a 465 
bullet in her neck. I didn't want to shoot, but 
it was a case of my outfit or the rhino. That this 

199 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

tendency to charge is congenital is well shown by 
the following : On my return to Nairobi from my 
first trip, I saw Tarlton, who I had previously 
met on the Tana River several months back, 
bringing in a baby rhino. He had shot the 
mother and had the little fellow in a sort of 
sling made from two tent flies, with holes cut for 
his legs and a long pole on top. When he re- 
fused to walk, he was carried by porters in this 
improvised sling, and when he struggled too 
much he was put on the ground and the pole held 
above so that he could be steered properly. Tarl- 
ton told me the baby had grown enormously and 
was three feet to the shoulder and weighed about 
600 pounds, and asked me to come out to his 
ranch, some six miles from Nairobi, and see him. 
Accordingly, Percival and I rode out to see 
the infant prodigy, which had become quite tame 
and followed his keeper, a Kikuyu boy, about like 
a dog. When we arrived, Tarlton was away 
looking to some sisal fields which he had just 
planted, and the baby rhino was out at exercise. 
Giving our ponies to a boy, we sent for the rhino 
and in the meantime looked over Tarlton's men- 
agerie, for he is a collector for many Zoological 
Gardens, and his ostrich corral, where he had 

200 



AIMS FOR VITAL POINTS ON GAME 

some fine young birds in high wire inclosures 
with posts about six feet high. 

Presently the rhino hove in sight, his boy feed- 
ing him with some grass and leaves and guiding 
him with a light switch. We looked him over 
and he evidently did not recognize our scent, for 
he charged viciously, first at one and then at the 
other. Now a rhino, even if he is a baby and has 
only three or four-inch horns, is not to be trifled 
with, so Percival and I took to the fence posts of 
the ostrich corral and shouted for Tarlton, who 
came up. 

He swears he found us perched on the posts, 
first being picked in the rear by the beaks of 
inquiring ostriches, and then charged in front by 
the harmless baby, and told the story to good 
effect at Nairobi. The rhino was finally beaten 
off with sticks and we had a very pleasant lunch, 
but it goes to show that a rhino will charge from 
birth to the end of his life. 

One more anecdote of our friend the rhino. 
A. B. Percival and Wooseman, both game rang- 
ers, were marching north in the Meru country in 
Africa and had pitched their camp at dark near 
a water hole. The Bwana's tent was put up in a 
clear space which later turned out to be an old 

201 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

rhino path to the water. In the middle of the 
night Percival fortunately left the tent and 
Wooseman describes what happened as follows : 

There was a great crash and the tent was 
ripped down. My first impression was that a 
cyclone had struck it. When I crawled out of 
the debris I saw an old rhino disappearing in the 
moonlight with part of the fly gracefully draped 
over his horns and streaming out behind. I im- 
mediately thought of Percival and examined the 
wreckage and found the cot and canvas of the 
tent smeared with heavy clots of red. Poor old 
"P," he had been done for, and these were part of 
the remains. Suddenly Percival appeared look- 
ing for me. He was all right, and the blotches 
of sticky red were the remains of a box of straw- 
berry jam from our supplies placed under Per- 
cival's cot for safekeeping from the cook and tent 
boys. 

Wooseman was killed in France bravely lead- 
ing his men in 1915. 

With the elephant, the head shot is one sure 
and certain way of avoiding trouble, and a care- 
ful study of the animal's skull will show us that 
the brain measures some six by eleven inches. It 
is a good plan to imagine a line drawn diagonally 
from each eye to the orifice of the opposite ear. 

202 




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Where these two lines intersect is the point of 
aim, and we should try to put the bullet on that 
spot from whatever angle we stand, using only 
our heaviest rifle and solid bullets. The shoulder 
shot is also effective as is a shot either in the flank 
ranging forward, or one from the back to strike 
at the base of the skull ; but work after elephant 
is generally in heavy grass or bamboo, and as the 
herd almost invariably breaks up wind, it is far 
the best plan to make sure of your shot and try 
for the brain. 

The front shot is not so easy, as when charging 
the trunk is lifted and the head lowered. Then, 
too, the structure of the skull of the African ele- 
phant is thicker over the frontal and parital bone 
than that of his Indian cousin, and is more diffi- 
cult to penetrate. Nothing but the heaviest rifles 
should be employed for this work, with solid 
metal-cased bullets, as Mr. Elephant is the big- 
gest and most dangerous game, requiring a 
weapon capable of delivering a powerful blow 
which even if it does not hit the brain will deliver 
a shock sufficient to paralyze the animal and give 
the shooter either time to escape or to get in a 
second shot. 

The accompanying diagrams will, I hope, 
203 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

clearly illustrate the points of aim to be taken for 
various animals. The shots advised have all been 
proven and the results may be relied on in prac- 
tically all cases. 

There has been a great deal of rubbish written 
about using a bullet which expands and spoils 
meat for purposes of food. The first considera- 
tion should be to kill quickly and neatly without 
causing undue suffering. The second is to get 
food. Very little meat is rendered unfit for use 
by bullet holes ; it is, however, far better to lose a 
small portion of the meat than to have a lot of 
poor brutes roaming around with wounds which 
will eventually cause death. With the heavier 
game the killing resolves itself into the saying, 
"Get or be got." Nevertheless, it is true that, 
for certain purposes, where it is desirable not to 
spoil skin or skeleton for a museum specimen, we 
should rely more on placing the shot than on gen- 
eral shock, especially in the case of the smaller 
mammals. 




FIGURE 67, SIDE SHOT ON BEAR. THE SHOULDER SHOT IS 

PREFERABLE, UNLESS THE RANGE IS SHORT, 

WHEN THE NECK SHOT MAY BE TRIED 




FIGURE 68. SIDE SHOT ON LIONESS. THE SHOULDER SHOT 

SHOULD ALWAYS BE ATTEMPTED TO TRY TO BREAK 

DOWN LOCOMOTION AND PREVENT A CHARGE 




FIGURE 69. SIDE SHOT ON ELAND. IT WILL BE SEEN THAT 

THE HEART AND SHOULDER BLADE ARE APPARENTLY FARTHER 

BACK, OWING TO THE HEAVIER DEWLAP, THAN IN MOST 

ANTELOPES; THIS FACT SHOULD BE BORNE IN MIND 




FIGURE 70. HEAD SHOT ON HIPPOPOTAMUS. THE BRAIN 

SHOT IS THE ONE NEARLY ALWAYS PRESENTED, GENERALLY IN 

THE WATE3. AN ACCURATE RIFLE OF GOOD 

PENETRATION IS ESSENTIAL 











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FIGURE 71- SIDE SHOT ON RHINOCEROS. THE NECK IF CLOSE 
ENOUGH; OTHERWISE THE FORE SHOULDER, BUT IF THE 
LATTER IS TAKEN, ANOTHER SHOT WILL 
BE NECESSARY TO FINISH 




FIGURE 72. HEAD-ON SHOT ON RHINOCEROS. ONLY THE 

SHOT AT BASE OF NECK AND SHOULDER SHOULD BE ATTEMPTED, 

AS THE BRAIN IS SMALL AND IS PROTECTED BY THE 

HORNS. THIS SHOT ALSO APPLIES TO CAPE BUFFALO 




FIGURE 73. SIDE SHOT ON" SABLE ANTELOPE. SHOULDER 
AND QUARTERING SHOTS ARE THE RULE 



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FIGURE 74. SIDE SHOT ON ELEPHANT. THE HEAD SHOT IS 

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SHOULD BE FIRED AT ONLY WHEN THE HEAD IS 

NOT VISIBLE ON ACCOUNT OF GRASS OR BRUSH 



APPENDICES 



APPENDIX I 

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE EVOLUTION OF THE 

RIFLE 

If we revert to the very beginning of weapons 
of defense, we may start with the stone thrown by 
hand and follow the development of mechanical 
means of transmitting power through the various 
stages of sling, bow and arrow, and crossbow — to 
the later types of crossbow which replaced the 
quarrel or short arrow with a leaden slug. With 
the introduction of gun powder, a tube was in- 
troduced on a shoulder rest or stock of the bow 
and the ball placed on the charge of powder which 
was ignited by a slow match or wick. This in 
turn gave way to the wheel lock, which was re- 
placed by the application of flint and steel igni- 
tion to the sporting gun. Probably the highest 
development of the flint-lock was reached about 
1830, and those made by Joseph Manton, of Lon- 
don, were exquisite pieces of workmanship. 

In America the first flint-locks were smooth- 
bore, carrying a round ball about 32 calibers in 
diameter for convenience of transportation. This 
small bullet was effective against the non-danger- 
ous eastern game, and, on account of the long 
barrel generally used on the weapon, was accu- 

207 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

rate up to 150 yards. With the exodus of the 
trapper and pioneer to the western prairies, where 
he encountered buffalo, bear, and larger animals, 
we find that the bore of the flint-lock rifle was in- 
creased to about 45 or 50 calibers, and, also, for 
ease and convenience in carrying on horseback, as 
well as in loading, the length of the barrel was 
decreased. This shorter large-bore rifle was 
known as the Mississippi Yeager, and was used 
by the pioneers in the Far West. In the north- 
western part of the United States the bore was 
still further increased, and we find many exam- 
ples of rifles of 70-caliber or more. These rifles 
were evidently used against grizzlies and buffalo. 
It is perfectly certain that the stories that we hear 
of the marvelous accuracy and range of these 
weapons are mythical and have been greatly ex- 
aggerated in being passed down to younger gen- 
erations. Probably more rifles were manufac- 
tured in western Pennsylvania than in any other 
portion of the United States in these early pe- 
riods, and contests were held between the various 
villages and towns in order to demonstrate the 
superiority of certain sections in the use of the 
weapon. 

Cooper, in his "Leather Stocking Tales," has 
drawn the long bow about as far as any one can 
in regard to the flint-lock rifle, and yet it was 
accurate, as I have said, at short ranges. Only 
last year (1919) I saw Mr. Dillon of Philadel- 

208 



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APPENDICES 

phia at the National Rifle Association Meeting 
demonstrate that with a flint-lock rifle of the 
earlier period he could load, prime, and fire the 
piece in 30 seconds and hold nearly all his shots 
in a 10-inch circle at 100 yards. 

Although the percussion rifle was introduced 
in the early part of the nineteenth century, it 
was not generally adopted by the men of the Far 
West, who found difficulty in obtaining caps for 
the rifle and preferred to trust to the flint-lock. 
In the East, however, it was brought to a fine 
point of perfection, and many noted rifle makers 
made exceptionally fine weapons — Billinghurst- 
Perry, Reuben Harwood, Schalke, Zichaug, and 
others. These rifles were of 38 to 50 caliber, 
and used a heavy powder charge compared to the 
flint-locks. They were extremely accurate; in 
fact, far more so than many of the breech-loaders. 
Until recent years — 1880 to 1889 — many were 
still in the hands of target shooters, especially for 
long range, for in the first metallic cartridges for 
breech-loaders there was great difficulty as re- 
gards ammunition. The natural descendant of 
these extremely accurate rifles is seen in the 
32/40 and 38/55 single-shot target rifles of to- 
day. 

The percussion rifle was in use here in Amer- 
ica until the time of the Civil War, when the 
breech-loading weapon, taking a metallic car- 
tridge with a charge of priming or fulminate con- 

209 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

tained in the cartridge case, was introduced ; this 
in turn gave way to a rifle, the Volcanic Magazine, 
the invention of Wesson of Springfield, Massa- 
chusetts, and Henry, which was in turn super- 
seded by the Henry 44-caliber, rim-fire, 16-shot 
repeater. These patents were acquired by the 
Winchester Repeating Arms Company, and in 
1866 the first Winchester Repeating Rifle under 
that name was manufactured. From that time 
this company seems to have held its own in the 
matter of repeating rifles until the introduction 
of the present bolt type. 

There was a type of rifle evolved during the 
Civil War, or just previous to that period, which 
was a semi-breech loader ; that is, the rear portion 
of the barrel was dropped in the action frame and 
a charge of powder and bullet was inserted, either 
separately or in the form of a paper cartridge, 
without, however, any primer. The ignition was 
supplied by a cap placed upon a nipple at the 
breech of this falling block. Of this type, prob- 
ably the best known were the Burnside and the 
Sharpe patterns. The Sharpe pattern merely 
had the addition of a firing pin in the falling 
block and inserted the cartridge in the breech of 
the barrel proper. This cartridge had a primer 
located in the center of the case and contained the 
powder charge proper and the bullet fixed in the 
mouth of the shell. Sharpe followed the prac- 
tice of the Western hunters and employed a 

210 



APPENDICES 

heavy bullet of large caliber with a considerable 
charge of powder, thus insuring range and smash- 
ing power, a practice continued until the intro- 
duction of the small-bore, high-velocity rifle. 

As these rifles were mainly for use on the west- 
ern prairies and were carried on horseback, a 
heavy barrel was employed, and the famous buf- 
falo gun known as Sharpe's "Old Reliable" was 
evolved, the weight of which was 14 to 18 pounds. 
We still find specimens that have been used on 
the western plains shooting a 45-caliber bullet of 
400 grains weight, with a powder charge of from 
100 to 130 grains of black powder, while the same 
rifle was equally famous at Creedmore, Walnut 
Hill, and other eastern ranges, for long-range 
shooting. 

It was not until 1886 that the Winchester 
Company brought out a repeater to take these 
cartridges as well as the 45/70, which was used 
in the Government Springfield, the regulation 
arm with a portion of the United States forces 
until the adoption of the smokeless, high-velocity, 
small-bore in 1896. 

The first repeating rifle to handle a small-bore 
smokeless cartridge of American origin was the 
Winchester 30/30 model of 1894, and it was im- 
mediately a great favorite. Colonel Roosevelt 
used it early in the 90's and commended it highly. 

With the adoption of the Krag-Jorgensen by 
the War Department, the 30-caliber Krag-Jor- 

211 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

gensen cartridge immediately became popular, 
and still is as a game getter. Commercial rifles 
are made for it, but nearly all the rifle manufac- 
turers still cling to the light 30/30 and claim al- 
most miraculous powers for their special car- 
tridges of this type, which are, however, too weak 
for any game except deer. 

The English double rifle "has never been pop- 
ular in this country, probably due to the fact that 
nearly every farmer's boy had been brought up 
from childhood and had become accustomed to 
the long single-barrel weapon. Then, too, there 
was very little use for a smashing blow, for the 
game was not dangerous in the more populated 
districts. 

I think that the familiarity of former genera- 
tions with the rifle rather than with the shotgun 
has given rise to the idea that Americans and 
American rifles were invincible. Unfortunately, 
as the game has disappeared and the chances to 
the small boy for indiscriminate practice have les- 
sened, just so much has the general knowledge of 
the weapon decreased, and if we are to preserve a 
reasonable amount of skill with the weapon, we 
must depend on target practice and competition, 
beginning with the school boy and ending when a 
man is past middle age. The facilities of prac- 
tice and attaining skill with the rifle have been 
fostered by the National Rifle Association, and 
through its efforts allowances have been made by 

212 



APPENDICES 

the War Department to maintain and equip 
civilian rifle clubs throughout the country. It 
is to be hoped that enough interest will be taken 
in rifle shooting in the near future to provide at 
least the nucleus of men competent to act as in- 
structors in case of emergency to such forces as 
we may find necessary to raise for the protection 
of the country. 

Rifling, or the grooving of the interior of gun 
barrels, was probably introduced in Germany 
about 1550. The function of this grooving seems 
to have been to make loading easier rather than to 
have any specific effect on the bullet, and it was 
not until the introduction of spiral grooves and 
a round ball with a belt cast on its circumference 
which took the groove that any attempt was made 
to impart a rotary motion to the projectile. The 
development seems to have been more definite 
with the introduction of the conical bullet, and 
the grooves were multiplied and the base of the 
bullet made hollow so that the force of the explo- 
sion of the powder would expand it into the 
grooves and impart a rotary motion to the bul- 
let on its long axis during flight and keep it point 
foremost. It thus resists any tendency of this 
long cylinder to overturn or keyhole; as the 
spinning of a top will cause it to preserve its 
balance while revolving upon its point, so the 
spinning of the bullet will keep it traveling point 
foremost in the air. 

213 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

In the manufacture of rifle barrels the bar of 
steel is first smooth bored with a hole the diame- 
ter of the caliber desired. The exterior of the 
barrel is then turned true to the axis of the bore 
and grooves are cut in the interior surface in a 
spiral channel which leave certain ridges or 
uncut portions of the barrel raised spirals. It 
sometimes takes as many as 150 distinct cuts to 
bring the grooves to a depth of four one-thou- 
sandths of an inch. The chamber is then bored 
in the breech end of the barrel to take the cart- 
ridge case, and the rifle barrel itself is threaded to 
fit into the action. 

It will be seen that as these raised spirals en- 
grave or cut into the surface of the bullet, and 
the base of the bullet by the force of the powder, 
is expanded to fill the groove with a gas-tight fit, 
a rotation equal to the spiral of the grooving will 
be imparted to the bullet. Now, in as much as 
the longer and heavier the bullet is, the more apt 
we are to find air resistance at the point irregular, 
and also as the slightest irregularity of delivery 
of its base from the muzzle will develop a greater 
tendencjr to tumble or keyhole, with increase in 
length and weight of the bullet we must increase 
the rate of rotation in a given distance to make it 
travel point foremost. 

The barrel once fitted to the action is then 
equipped with sights and is stocked. It is then 
generally bore sighted, that is, the sights are 

214 



APPENDICES 

aligned on a known spot and the center of the 
bore on another at a short distance away. 
Many rifles are then turned over to the customer 
without further tests; but with the better quali- 
ties, and by those makers who really guarantee 
the accuracy of their weapons, the complete rifle 
is first shot with a proof charge in excess of the 
service or usual charge to be used, and also shot 
for alignment and elevation of the sights. The 
shooting is generally done from a muzzle and 
elbow rest by an expert shot, and in the case 
of very fine weapons they are placed in a me- 
chanical rest and shot for groups generally con- 
sisting of 10 shots at 100 and 200 yards. The 
cartridges used in testing must be loaded with 
extreme care and each must be as near the coun- 
terpart of the other as possible, or wild shots will 
be the rule and no group of any decent dimen- 
sions will be obtained. 

In order to obtain a standard of cartridges 
used, it is necessary to know the velocity and 
breech pressure produced by a certain load; this 
is obtained by the use of two instruments. One 
is the chronograph to obtain the velocity of the 
bullet; it consists of a rest and a target of steel; 
across the muzzle of the rifle is stretched a fine 
wire which is electrically connected with a re- 
cording instrument, as is also the steel plate or 
the target. When the rifle bullet leaves the muz- 
zle, it breaks the wire and interrupts an electric 

215 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

circuit; when it strikes the plate it closes the 
circuit again. As the time that the bullet is in 
flight between these two points is recorded on the 
instrument, the velocity is easily obtained in feet 
per seconds. 

The pressure exerted by the charge of powder 
on the interior of the barrel is obtained by an- 
other instrument known as the crusher gauge, 
which is operated as follows: A hole is bored 
in a test barrel chambered for the cartridge, and 
when the charge is fired, the force is transmitted 
through this opening to a piston, which in turn 
acts on a cylinder of lead or copper and crushes 
or strikes it. The cylinder is then measured and 
the amount of compression from its original 
length carefully computed. The consistency of 
the metal in the cylinder being known and also 
the force required to compress the cylinder a 
given amount, the force exerted by the powder in 
the chamber of the barrel is readily estimated. 

The powder used in the early rifles was of the 
variety known as black, and was composed of a 
mixture of charcoal, saltpeter and sulphur. Al- 
though the quality of the ingredients was im- 
proved and the various quantities of each com- 
ponent slightly changed, the fundamental prin- 
ciple of combustion remained the same. It was 
not until about 1859 that a practical smokeless 
composition was obtained by Schultze, a German 
chemist. At the present day practically all rifle 

216 



APPENDICES 



powders are of the smokeless variety. They 
are made by nitrating either pulp, cotton, or a 
mineral jelly, their force being regulated by 
their chemical composition. 



APPENDIX II 

POPE RIFLE BARRELS 
By H. M. Pope 

By profession I am a mechanical engineer and 
a skillful workman ; for recreation and by prefer- 
ence, a "rifle crank." I first made a barrel (en- 
tirely on a foot lathe) because I could not buy 
what I wanted; i. e., a .25-caliber, which I made 
in 1887, before this size was manufactured. My 
first charge was a straight shell holding 25 grains 
of powder and a 100-grain bullet, then a shorter 
one with 20 or 21 grains of powder and 85-grain 
bullet. Finding the making of a sufficient num- 
ber of these shells on a foot lathe an arduous task, 
I rechambered and swaged down a .32/20 shell. 
I used this shell for some time, but on making 
my first muzzle loader, I swaged down a .38 ex- 
tra-long, center-fire shell, holding 30 grains, and 
using bullets up to 120 grains. With this rifle 
I did my best shooting under National Rifle As- 
sociation rules. Being troubled with bursting 
shells, I finally swaged down .32/ 40 everlasting 
shells, using 35 grains. This did good work 
muzzle loading, but had passed the limit for ac- 

218 



APPENDICES 

curacy for breech-loading with black powder. 
Shortly after this I accidentally injured my bar- 
rel and abandoned this rifle for a 13-pound rifle 
with set triggers, the state of my pocketbook at 
prize matches giving an unanswerable argument 
that this gave better results than the lighter arm, 
and later experience fully bears this out, and I 
find that I can still shoot a "practical" rifle with 
the rest, some "arm over your head" cranks to 
the contrary. (Proof, five dead deer with five 
cartridges, standing and running all in thick 
woods at usual distance.) The conditions of 
target shooting and field shooting bear no re- 
semblance to one another, the most difficult 
change being not the change in arm, but the 
change from a deliberate aim at a target to the 
snap shot at game. Therefore when you shoot 
at a target use every refinement known to in- 
crease your scores, as almost every refinement 
known for target use is impracticable in the field 
or woods. 

During the period above mentioned I became 
interested in, and thoroughly convinced that, the 
so-called Schalke system, devised by Wm. 
Hayes and Geo. Schalke, possessed advantages 
for offhand shooting that placed it far in ad- 
vance of any other system of loading. This 
system I adopted, improving on Mr. Schalke's 
method of manufacture, and altering somewhat 
the form of cut, though retaining the essential 

219 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

features. The above mentioned heavy rifle, as 
well as the last .25 caliber, were so made. Their 
performance was so good that I had to fit out 
my intimate shooting friends, and their improve- 
ment in shooting was so marked that I began 
to be besieged by outside parties to make barrels 
for them. This, for a long time, I refused to 




FIGURE 79. POPE RIFLING AS USED IN SCHUETZEN TARGET 

RIFLES 

do, but finally these inquiries became so numer- 
ous, and Mr. Schalke's death occurring about this 
time, I consented, with the result that my barrels 
are now in the hands of the most expert off- 
hand shots in the country, and are making scores 
that are unsurpassed, and every man who shoots 
a Pope improves his scores. Don't believe me, 
but watch the papers and see if this is not so. 

The Pope system, so called, is, as previously 
stated, nearly the same as the Schalke, the dif- 
ference being in the shape of the cut, and that 
my barrels are cut to correct shape, while Mr. 
Schalke's were leaded. Mr. Schalke's rifling had 
eight flat grooves and eight narrow lands, with 

220 



APPENDICES 

sharp corners to grooves. My rifling is here 
shown (see Fig. 79). It has eight wide 
grooves, which are on a radius about three times 
the radius of the bore, and has the corners 
rounded out, so dirt is easier removed, and it is 
cleaner in use. This groove is cut just deep 
enough to clean the bore in center and give a 
depth at corners of about .004 inch, which is 
about one-half the depth of the Schalke, but 
which is of ample depth, and works cleaner, and 
leaves less to depend on on upset of the bullet, 
and is therefore more reliable. The lands are 
very narrow (about one-fifth to one-sixth the 
width of the groove). The bullet is made with 
a base large enough to fill grooves completely, 
and the body of practically the same diameter as 
the bore. This gives a form that is gas tight, 
loads very easily (being assisted in this by the 
narrow lands and choke bore), and on upset, in- 
stead of the body of the bullet meeting only 
sharp lands and these cutting into the body of 
the bullet more or less unequally, it is immedi- 
ately held to place by the nearly flat center of 
the broad grooves, and swells out into grooves 
equally and perfectly central; consequently is 
accurate. 

In this system a false muzzle and starter are 
used, and the lubricated bullet, seated from the 
muzzle, the shell with powder being afterward 
inserted in the ordinary way. In doing this the 

221 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

labor is very light, as the shooter has to handle 
nothing over a few ounces weight, the rifle stand- 
ing in the loading stand. By the simple act of 
pushing the bullet home the sharp flat base of 
the bullet cuts the dirt down behind it, and does 
so exactly alike each time, giving a uniformly 
clean barrel without the labor of cleaning. This 
is also less labor than the ordinary way of seat- 
ing a greased bullet in the breech, having to in- 
vert the rifle and generally sustaining its weight 
while so doing. The result of these things is 
that we attain all the accuracy of patched bullets, 
and in ordinary hands more, without the labor of 
cleaning. 

Other things being equal, the man who tires 
himself least does the best shooting in the long 
run, and if this is accompanied by increased ac- 
curacy of the rifle, he has a great advantage over 
his fellows who do otherwise. 

A properly made barrel, loaded in this way, 
will shoot 10-shot groups at 200 yards that will 
average about 1^4 to 1% inches less in diameter 
than the same or an equally good barrel shot 
dirty, bullet seated from the breech, while one 
using bullets seated in the shell is so far out of 
the game as to have no chance whatever on a 
string of any considerable number of shots, if 
otherwise he is an even match for his competitors. 

One and one-quarter to 1% inches does not 
sound much, but on the fine ringed targets now 

222 



APPENDICES 

in use it means points. I have before me a good 
nuzzle-loading group, .32 -caliber, 10 shots, 200 
yards. On German ring target it counts 250. 
Another group, shot breech loading, bullet seated 
in the breech, same load, is but one inch larger 
in diameter and is the best group I ever saw 
shot under these conditions. It counts 245. On 
the Columbia target the scores are respectively 
12 and 21; on the Standard American 120 and 
115. The difference between average groups is 
still more marked, averaging fully seven or eight 
points on German ring target. On this no com- 
nent is necessary. 

For steadiness in shooting, I have fired 130 
consecutive shots in 10-shot strings, measuring 
from centers of groups 104 inches, an average 
of exactly .8 inch per shot. The largest group 
was 3.75 inches across from center to center of 
Dutside shots, and measured 9-11/16 inches. 
The smallest group was 1.8 inches across and 
neasured six inches. All but two of the shots 
Would fit into a three-inch circle. 

A bullet loaded from the muzzle will always 
have an advantage over one loaded from the 
breech, for it will have a perfect base, as the lands 
cutting forward into the bullet leave it nearly 
perfect. Contrast it with a bullet seated in the 
breech by means of a bullet seated in the ordi- 
nary way. Here the lands cutting backward 
into the bullet drag the burrs behind, leaving an 

223 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

uneven and serrated base. If this bullet is not 
perfectly centered these burrs will be longer on 
one side than on the other. As these burrs leave 
the muzzle, the gas escapes first from the short 
side, tipping the bullet to the opposite side, in 
which it is assisted by the longer burrs holding the 
bullet back; the result is an uneven, wobbling 
flight. The greatest essential for perfect shoot- 
ing is to deliver the bullet perfectly from the 
muzzle; that being done, atmospheric conditions 
and gravity alone govern its flight; the result is 
accurate shooting. 

To illustrate, a group was shot at 200 yards, 
machine rest, with as perfect bullets as I could 
select, another on same holding with bullets very 
badly mutilated at the point ; these two grouped 
closely, a three-inch circle holding all. Another 
group was then shot with bullets very slightly 
filed on one edge of the base, but otherwise per- 
fect; this caused imperfect delivery, and the 
group was eight inches in diameter. Weather 
conditions were good. 

The base band of my bullets is broad and 
sharp, and of full size ; the starter centers it per- 
fectly, and fits it to rifling with a perfect base; 
the shape of the grooves hold it central on upset, 
and it delivers perfect from the muzzle. No 
other method will do this. 

My barrels are all (unless specially ordered) 
cut with a gain twist, and are so bored and rifled 

234 



APPENDICES 

as to have a slight, but gradual, taper from 
breech to muzzle. This, besides keeping bullets 
perfectly under control, in connection with the 
narrow lands (which cut through the bullet 
easily) , makes loading very easy, and very ma- 
terially increases accuracy. A bullet pushed 
through from the breech is tight all the way, there 
are no loose places, and this result is attained by 
close, careful workmanship, no emery being used ; 
the result is a barrel with a long life. Whenever 
practicable I chamber and make all cross-cuts be- 
fore rifling; then I fit a bushing to the chamber 
and bore and rifle it with the barrel and false 
muzzle. As the rifling is then the last cut made 
in the barrel, I am absolutely certain that there 
can be no burrs across the grooves, a very com- 
mon fault. 

The advantage of the gain twist are two: 
First — The twist being less at the breech, gives 
less friction to the bullet ; it therefore starts easier 
and quicker, giving the powder less time to burn 
on in front of the chamber, which therefore fouls 
less than in a barrel of uniform twist at the same 
necessary muzzle pitch. Second — The slight 
change in angle of rifling, in connection with 
choke boring, effectually shuts off any escape of 
gas and prevents gas cutting, which is another 
cause of imperfect delivery. 

The advantages of the Pope system are briefly 
summed up as follows : 

225 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

1 — Accuracy. 2 — Light labor. 3 — Seating 
the bullet centrally without deforming the base, 
and fitting it perfectly to the bore. 4 — The 
shape of the grooves holding the bullet central 
on upset. 5 — Non burning-on qualities of the 
gain twist. 6 — Perfect workmanship. 7 — 
Ability to load from either the breech or muzzle, 
and to clean and inspect from the breech. 8 — 
The ability to shoot any charge desired by in- 
serting shell first, and loading both powder 
and bullet from the muzzle. 

To produce the quality of work that I do, the 
methods employed in factories producing work 
in large quantities are impossible; that is to say, 
that this method of interchangeable parts must 
leave some leeway for slight inaccuracies to in- 
sure parts assembling. In my work such loose- 
ness of fit would be fatal to the results attained. 
False muzzles, for instance, it is utterly impossi- 
ble to make perfectly interchangeable, neither is 
it possible for automatic machinery to produce 
the same quality of work as a skilled workman 
with brains behind. The automatic machine does 
more and does it cheaper, but the quality is not 
there. Therefore I do all nice work by hand, 
in the very best manner I know how. Nothing 
is slighted. This is slow work and takes ex- 
pensive men. Naturally I cannot compete with 
factory work in price, but, quality considered, 
my price is very low. 

226 



APPENDICES 

The Pope muzzle loading outfit consists of 
barrel, false muzzle, starter, ramrod, Pope 
special muzzle-loading mold, and lubricating 
pump. Barrels will be furnished of almost any 
length and weight, within about 3 to 6 ounces 
limit of variation up to 8 pounds, 2 ounces, for 




FIGURE 80. POPE FALSE MUZZLE AND BULLET SEATER 

32-inch, No. 4 Octagon, ,32-caliber barrel. I 
consider for 200 yard offhand work a barrel of 
about 7% pounds, 30 inches long and round as 
the best adapted. This I consider my standard, 
and recommend it as giving the best average re- 
sults. For caliber for offhand work I prefer a 
.28, .32 or .33. 

The weight of powder charges are the drawn 
shell full. This can be decreased by the use of 
everlasting or special shells, or by using less 
powder and an air space. Weights of B. L. 
bullets are those intended to seat in the shell. 
Barrels are cut with a pitch correct for the bul- 
let they are intended to use. Shorter bullets can 
be made in a barrel cut for the long one, but not 
the reverse. It is oftentimes better to use the 
lighter bullet. Unless specially ordered I shall 
use my own judgment in cutting the barrel. 

227 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

Calibers and Weights 



Caliber 


Powder 
grains 


M.L. Bullet 
grains 


B.L. Bullet 
grains 


200 yd. Guarantee 
inches 


.25 
.28 
.32 
.33 
.38 
.39 


26 
30 
47 
47 
55 
55 


98 

118 and 138 
180 and 200 
195 and 218 
277 and 330 
265 and 345 


86 
108 
165 and 185 

255 


Sy 2 and 3 
3 and 2y 2 
3 and 2y 2 
3 and 2y 2 
3 and 2y 2 
3 and 2y 2 



Note. — The .33 and .39 calibers are recut from old .32 and .38 
barrels and are adapted to muzzle loading only. 

It will be noticed that two guarantees are 
given as to the size of the group at 200 yards. 
There is absolutely no difference in the qualities 
of barrel or workmanship. I have a long trip to 
make to test, and in my guarantee have to make 
allowance for adverse weather conditions, some- 
times having to make several trips to the range to 
secure the desired results. I never alter a barrel 
in testing, it is a matter of ammunition only. If 
tested you see what has actually been accom- 
plished with fine appliances, and know exactly 
what load did it. If untested you, unless very 
expert, can hardly expect to equal at once the 
results of my machine rest, and may have to do 
some experimenting (when you become accus- 
tomed to the system, not before), to determine 
the best temper of bullets, etc. You are liable 
to get as close a group on one guarantee as an- 
other, as it is largely a matter of weather condi- 
tions. If weather is good I get close groups ; if 
weather is cold and wind tricky they are not so 

228 



APPENDICES 

good. It is perfectly obvious that I cannot guar- 
antee to furnish as close a group as the barrel 
is capable of shooting, though I might happen 
to do so. I believe all my barrels are capable of 
shooting closer than 2-inch groups with favorable 
weather conditions. 

More information can be derived from the use 
of a double machine rest in a few hours than 
can be had by ordinary rest shooting by an ordi- 
nary shooter in as many weeks, as if at all care- 
fully used, it has no human errors of holding and 
pulling. The results, therefore, are those due 
to rifle, ammunition, and weather only; the man 
is out of it except so far as his loading of the 
rifle and judgment of the wind are concerned. 
The mounts are all adjustable and clamp to the 
barrel, no screw holes or marring of the barrel 
being necessary. They take barrels of all ordi- 
nary sizes without change, the forearm being re- 
moved while testing. In use two stout posts 
are set deeply in the ground, the firmer the bet- 
ter, and are braced together. A smooth level 
plank is fastened on top. Both posts are firmly 
braced in two directions, stop is fastened on top 
plank in proper position, and rear rest to rear 
post so as to give approximately the correct ele- 
vation. Front rest and scope mountings are 
clamped to the barrel, the same loaded, and slid 
gently to stop. To sight on I prefer four black 
pasters, placed at the corners of a square about 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

2^/2 inches on a side. Adjust your rest or tele- 
scope, or perhaps both, so the gun points are 
where you wish, cross-hairs being between each 
pair of pasters. Let the rifle rest naturally, hold 
right hand about 6 inches behind the butt, touch 
the set trigger with the left hand, and catch the 
rifle on recoil. If the gun has a heavy pull 
pinch the trigger and guard with thumb and 
forefinger so as not to disturb the rifle in rest. 
In setting up it is often convenient to set the 
rest so the rifle will point on the target before the 
telescope is mounted; using the ordinary sights, 
then mount the scope and adjust it to your 
pasters, and shoot your group, then move the 
rest a fair amount, that depending on how close 
the gun will shoot, then bring your scope again 
to the pasters and shoot again. It very seldom 
pays to try to get the rifle to shoot at any given 
spot in testing. Hold in one spot and get your 
group wherever it happens to fall. 

A telescope sight is not a necessity in double 
rest shooting, though it is a great convenience. 
With it you can shoot from a bench rest that is 
not firm, as the sight gives you a chance to correct 
the aim each time. For all that an absolutely 
firm bench is best, and if you shoot from a double 
rest without a scope it is an absolute necessity. 



230 



APPENDICES 

Directions for Handling Pope Muzzle 
Loading Rifles 

Tie your false muzzle to the loading rack. 
This prevents your shooting it off and also pre- 
vents the gun from falling, as it is to be kept 6n 
the gun until ready to shoot. 

Seat your bullet as soon as possible after firing 
so the powder dirt will not have time to harden 
and make it load hard. To seat the bullet stand 
the gun in the rack so the barrel will be vertical, 
breech open. Wipe off the muzzle with a bit of 
waste carefully with the blinder pin in line of 
sights; push it down gently; keep the muzzle 
pins clean and occasionally smear them with a 
bit of bullet grease. Place a bullet on the muz- 
zle with the left hand, with the starter in the right 
hand, plunger down, place cup of plunger on 
point of bullet and slide the starter down onto 
the false muzzle ; hold the starter down tight onto 
the false muzzle with the left hand and drive the 
bullet in the length of the starter plunger with 
ONE BELOW with the ball of the right hand. 
Strike in line of plunger and do not strike with 
the palm as it will hurt and make your hand sore. 
Do not strike several blows as the bullet upsets 
each time and goes with difficulty. Get the 
knack of the exact strength required and strike 
but once. Pull up the plunger with the right 

231 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

hand while still holding the body down with the 
left so the plunger will not rub in the rifling and 
wear it. When the plunger is way up hold it 
there with your thumb and remove the starter 
from the muzzle, still holding the false muzzle to 
the barrel; with the knob. Take your ramrod 
and hold it short with both hands and push hard 
and straight to start the bullet part wa)^ down. 
Don't drive it — push, then shift your grip to the 
knob and push it gently clear down to the knob. 
Now — LISTEN — Leave your gun in the rack 
this way, muzzle tied to the rack, muzzle on bar- 
rel, rod way down, till you are ready to shoot. 
The fact that it is so shows you have seated a 
bullet to place and no injury can come to the 
barrel. Load shell and then remove the rod 
slowly to prevent suction; go to the firing point 
and look into the breech to see the bullet before 
you insert the shell to shoot. 

Cautions 

Always see that the rod is in the barrel as de- 
scribed before you shoot. That is a sure pre- 
ventive of having a bullet seated and another 
started or of having the bullet only part way 
down. 

If your shell should apparently miss fire, look 
into the barrel. If the bullet is still in it, go 
back to the stand and put on your muzzle and 

232 



APPENDICES 

put your rod down to place. Sometimes one 
puts on a primer only which drives the bullet up 
the barrel and if the bullet was not returned to 
place the next shot would bulge the barrel. 

Don't lose your false muzzle, it cannot be 
duplicated. > 

Don't carry the false muzzle on your gun. If 
it should fall it is liable to injure both it and 
the barrel. Carry the ramrod in the barrel, 
then if it falls the wooden knob makes a cushion 
that prevents injury to the end of the barrel. 

One way of injuring a barrel is to shoot a bul- 
let part way down. This usually makes a pow- 
der ring. To shoot a bullet from the breech 
against one only started down ruins the barrel 
except for rebore to a larger size. Exploding a 
primer only and driving the bullet part way out 
to be ringed by the next powder charge, unless 
pushed back into place. Leaving the rod in 
place as above prevents all but the last of these. 

NEVER insert the loaded shell till at the fir- 
ing point. 

Loads 2% Peters primer, 5 grains weight 
FFG Semi Smokeless, 19 or 20 grains weight, of 
Du Pont's Schuetzen smokeless. This leaves the 
shell nearly full — postal card wad — bullet 1 part 
tin to 27 parts lead. This is a very accurate load 
with light recoil. I use it. 

Another— Either 2% Peters or No. 8 U.M.C. 
primer, 3 grains weight of Schuetzen Smokeless 

233 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

or Du Pont's No. 1 Smokeless rifle ; shell nearly- 
filled with FG or FFG Semi Smokeless. Bul- 
let 1 tin to 30 lead — postal card wad. 

When through shooting, load a bullet as 
usual, but push it clear through with the clean- 
ing rod. Wipe thoroughly and dry and grease 
with Pope's "Leadoff" which is a splendid rust 
preventer and also a very quick lead remover. 



APPENDIX III 

EXTRACT FROM "u. S. SMALL-ARMS FIRING 
REGULATIONS, 1913" 

Place the rifle firmly in a rest 25 or 30 feet 
from a plank or wall, taking care that the piece 
is not cantered either to the right or left. Upon 
the wall or plank a sheet of blank paper should 
be tacked and the rifle sighted near its center. 
Changes in line of sights are made by changing 
elevation and windage of the rear sight. The 
soldier should sight carefully for a small black 
disk which is placed on the end of a short rod, 
pierced in its center with a hole just large enough 
to admit the point of a lead pencil and manipu- 
lated by another. The soldier sighting directs 
the marker to move the disk to the right, left, 
higher, or lower, until the line of aim is estab- 
lished, when he commands "Mark" or "Hold." 
At the command "Mark," being careful not to 
move the disk, the marker records through the 
hole in its center the position of the disk and then 
withdraws it. At the command "Hold," the 
marker holds the disk carefully in place without 
marking until the position is verified by the in- 
structor, and the disk is not withdrawn until so 
directed. . . . 

235 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

Soldiers will sometimes be found who do not 
know how to place the eye in the line of sight; 
they often look over along one side of the notch 
of the rear sight and believe that they are aiming 
through the notch because they see it at the same 
time that they do the front sight. This error 
will probably be made evident by the preceding 
exercise. Some men in sighting will not look 
at the front sight and not at the object. As this 
often occasions a blur, which prevents the object 
from being distinctly seen and increases both the 
difficulties and inaccuracies of sighting, it should 
be corrected. 

Using the sighting rest for the rifle, require 
each man to direct the marker to move the disk 
until the rifle is directed on the bull's-eye, with 
the normal sight, and command "Mark"; then, 
being careful not to move the rifle or sights, re- 
peat the operation until three marks have been 
made. 

The triangle of sighting. — Join the three 
points determined as above by straight lines, 
mark the soldier's name, and call his attention to 
the triangle thus formed. The shape and size 
of this triangle will indicate the nature of the 
variations made in aiming. 

Abnormal shape causes. — If the triangle is 
obtuse, angled, with its sides approaching the 
vertical, the soldier has not taken a uniform 
amount of front sight. If the sides of the tri- 

236 



APPENDICES 

angle are more nearly horizontal, the errors were 
probably caused by not looking through the mid- 
dle of the notch or not over the top of the front 
sight. If any one of the sides of the triangle is 
longer than one-half inch, the instructor directs 
the exercise to be repeated, verifying each sight 
and calling the soldier's attention to his errors. 
The instructor will explain that the sighting gains 
in regularity as the triangle becomes smaller. 

Verifying the triangle. — If the sides of the tri- 
angle are so small as to indicate regularity in 
sighting, the instructor will mark the center of 
the triangle and then place the center of the 
bull's-eye on this mark. The instructor will then 
examine the position of the bull's-eye with ref- 
erence to the line of sight. If the bull's- 
eye is properly placed with reference to the 
line of sight, the soldier aims correctly and 
with uniformity. If not so placed, he aims in a 
regular manner but with a constant error. 

Causes of errors. — If the bull's-eye is directly 
above its proper position, the soldier has taken 
in aiming too little front sight, or if directly be- 
low, too much front sight. If directly to the rest 
or left, the soldier has not sighted through the 
center of the rear sight notch and over the top of 
the front sight. If to the right, he has probably 
either sighted along the left of the rear sight 
notch or the right side of the front sight, or has 
committed both of these errors. If the bull's- 

237 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

eye is too far to the left, he has probably sighted 
along the right of the rear sight notch or to the 
left of the front sight, or has combined both of 
these errors. If the bull's-eye is placed with 
reference to its proper position diagonally above 
and to the right, the soldier has probably com- 
bined the errors which placed it too high and too 
far to the right. Any other diagonal position 
would be produced by a similar combination of 
vertical and horizontal errors. As the errors 
thus shown are committed when the rifle is fixed 
in position, while that of the bull's-eye or target 
is altered, the effect will be directly opposite to 
the changes in the location of a hit in actual fire, 
occasioned by the same errors, when the target 
will be fixed and the rifle moved in aiming. 



APPENDIX IV 

GLOSSARY 

Angle of departure. — The inclination or vertical 
angle between the line of vision and the 
initial direction of the bullet produced. It 
differs from the angle of elevation in that the 
delivery of the bullet is affected by the "flip" 
of the barrel. 

Angle of elevation. — The inclination or vertical 
angle between the line of vision and the axis 
of the bore produced. 

Axis of the bore. — An imaginary straight line 
through the center of the bore produced. 

Caliber of bore. — The diameter of the bore meas- 
ured between the lands or raised spiral por- 
tions between the grooves in a barrel. 

Cant. — To hold the rifle so that the sights are in- 
clined to the right or left while aiming. 

Drift. — The lateral deviation of the bullet from 
the line of fire caused by its rotation on its 
long axis, independent of the effect of a side 
wind. 

Elevation scale. — The graduations on leaf or rear 
sight indicating the required position of peep 
or notch for various distances. 
#39 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 

Fall of bullet. — The vertical distance through 
which a bullet in flight drops from the line 
of axis of the bore. 

Line of fire. — The direction of the bullets' flight 
in a vertical plane. 

Line of sight. — When aiming: an imaginary 
straight line from the eye through the center 
of the peep, or rear sight, and the tip of the 
front sight, produced to meet the object 
aimed at. 

O'clock. — A term used to indicate, by the posi- 
tion of the figures on a clock or watch, the 
location of a hit on the target, or the direc- 
tion from which a wind is blowing. In the 
former case the top of the target is 12 ; the 
bottom 6 ; facing the shooter. In the latter 
case, the shooter is supposed to be at the cen- 
ter of the dial and the target at 12; the 
shooter's right side is 3 and his left side 9. 

Sight radius. — The distance between tip of front 
sight and the center of the peep or notch 
of rear sight when raised. 

Trajectory. — The curved path of a bullet in a 
vertical plane extending from muzzle of rifle 
to point of impact. 

Twist. — The spiral formed by the grooves in the 
bore of a rifle. It is measured by the length 
of the barrel, in inches, in which the spiral 
makes one complete turn. 
240 



APPENDICES 

Velocity. — The forward speed possessed by a bul- 
let at any point in its flight, expressed in feet 
per second. 

Wind Gauge. — The graduations on rear sight, 
used to measure the corrections for lateral 
deflection of the bullet by wind. 

Bore. — The cylindrical cavity in the small-arms 
barrel. 

Grooves. — The spiral channels within the bore of 
the rifle barrel. 

Lands. — Spaces in the bore of the rifle barrel be- 
tween the grooves. 

Mirage. — A word used to designate the heat 
waves observed on the target range on warm 
days. The waves indicate the direction in 
which the air is moving. 

Telescopic sight. — A telescope or other magnify- 
ing device attached to the barrel of the rifle, 
for getting while aiming, a better definition 
of a distant objective, provision being made 
for adjustments in elevation and for wind- 
age. 

Windage. — The influence of the wind in deflect- 
ing the bullet from the point at which it is 
aimed ; also applied to the amount of change 
made on the wind gauge. 



APPENDIX V 

SCORE SHEET OR CARD EMPLOYED BY THE 
AUTHOR 

The method of recording shots with the score 
sheet is as follows: Data as to weather, pow- 
der, etc., are filled in from instruments on the 
range. 

The value of the shot is recorded in the center 
circle and the location in the outer. Thus, a shot 
value of five at the left edge of the bull would 
have the figure 5 in the center circle and a dot 
on the outer circle at 9 o'clock. 

The shots can be transferred very accurately 
and plotted correctly on the facsimile of the tar- 
get; the minutes of angle of elevation and the 
amount of movement of wind gauge for changing 
conditions are recorded for each shot. 



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FIGURE 81. PAGE FROM AUTHOR'S SCORE BOOK. FIGURES 
MADE WITH SPECIAL RUBBER STAMPS 



APPENDIX VI 

TABLES OF LOADS, PRESSURES AND VELOCITIES IN 

ACTUAL FIRING BY THE AUTHOR TO OBTAIN DATA 

FOR THE CARTRIDGES RECOMMENDED 

IN CHAPTER X 

The cartridges were loaded by the author, the 
weights of powder charge being checked at the 
time of loading by H. M. Pope. The pressures 
taken at New Haven by the Winchester Arms 
Company's crusher gauge were recorded with an 
initial compression on the upper cylinder of 
46,000 pounds in the case of the Springfield; 
those taken at Wilmington by the Du Pont Com- 
pany's ballistics laboratory were recorded with no 
initial compression on the cylinders. The veloc- 
ities for the Springfield cartridges were taken 
simultaneously with the pressures on the crusher 
gauge, and the results tabulated can be absolutely 
relied upon. The velocities and pressures for the 
Krag 30/40 cartridges were taken separately 
with a side-block gauge and chronograph. 

As the velocities given are at 150 feet, 63 foot- 
seconds should be added in each case to obtain 
muzzle velocity. 



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APPENDIX VII 

BALLISTIC TESTS OF NEW 30-CALIBER, 180-GRAIN 

EXPANDING BULLET DESIGNED BY COLONEL 

JOHN CASWELL 

These tests were made at the range of the Win- 
chester Repeating Arms Company, New Haven, 
Connecticut, on March 10, 1920. The charge 
in each case was 51.5 grains of I.M.R. No. 14 
powder. 

Velocity at 78 feet in Springfield '03 rifle No. 
223233: 

Maximum 2,668 foot-seconds 

Minimum 2,626 " 

Average (3 shots) 2,652 " 

Pressure taken on Frankford Arsenal gauge 
No. 222972: 

Maximum 45,200 pounds 

Minimum 43,500 

Average (5 shots) 44,640 " 

Accuracy at 500 yards in Springfield '03 rifle 
No. 636076, regulation Frankford rest, 10-shot 
groups : 



247 



SPORTING RIFLES AND RIFLE SHOOTING 









Nine Shots 


Mean 




Vertical, 


Horizontal, 


Vertical, 


Radius, 




inches 


inches 


inches 


inches 


Group 1 


7.5 


10.2 


5.7 


3.88 


2 


15.5 


8.5 


14.4 


5.10 


3 


16.5 


12.9 


14.8 


5.85 


4 


11.2 


10.7 


7.3 


4.70 


" 5 


12.3 


11.4 


9.7 


4.20 


Average 


12.5 


10.7 


10.4 


4.75 



In penetration tests through %-inch pine 
boards at 25 feet in Springfield '03 rifle, bullets 
were recovered as follows: One in the 15th, one 
in the 18th, one in the 20th, one in the 26th, the 
average penetration being 19% boards. Bullets 
started to upset on entering the fifth board. 

Tests were also made using the regular 180- 
grain pointed full-patched and 30-caliber U. S. 
'06 shells. A charge of 53.5 grains of I.M.R. 
No. 14 powder was established to give approxi- 
mately 2,700 foot-seconds muzzle velocity. 

Velocity at 78 feet in Springfield '03 rifle No. 
223233: 

Maximum 2,655 foot-seconds 

Minimum 2,624 " 

Average (3 shots) , 2,642 " 

Pressure taken on Frankford Arsenal gauge 
No. 222972: 

Maximum 50,000 pounds 

Minimum 46,550 " 

Average (5 shots) 47,810 " 

The above figures are the latest data for the 
180-grain special game bullet. It should be re- 

248 



APPENDICES 

membered, however, that changes and improve- 
ments in powder composition and primers are 
being made not only from week to week but al- 
most from day to day, and that any decided im- 
provement as to range and accuracy will prob- 
ably be due to bullet construction rather than to 
changes in propelling charge. 



APPENDIX VIII 

A SELECT CHRONOLOGICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY OF 
THE RIFLE 

The Art of Deer Stalkmg, Scrope; London, 1847. 

Improved American Rifles, Chapman; New York, 
1848. 

Manual of Rifling and Rifle Sights, Bury; London, 
1864. 

Shot Chin and Sporting Rifle, Walsh ; London, 1882. 

Notes on the New Service Rifle, Halford; London, 
1888. 

Modem American Rifles, Gould ; Boston, 1892. 

Big Game Shooting; Badminton Library; London, 
1894. 

Modern Rifle Shooting, Tippins; London, 1895. 

Notes on the Rifle, Freemantle ; London, 1896. 

Through Equatorial Africa, Foa ; London, 1898. 

Le Fusil a Repetition Mauser; Liege, 1900. 

The Book of the Rifle, Freemantle; London, 1901. 

Modern Rifle Shooting, Hudson; Wilmington, Del., 
1903. 

Military Small Arms and Ammunition; London, 
1894, 1904. 

The Reason Why of Rifle Shooting, Davidson ; Wil- 
mington, Del., 1908. 

The Bullet's Flight, Mann; New York, 1909. 

Sporting Firearms, Kephart ; New York, 1912. 

Small Arms Firing Manual; Washington, 1913. 
250 



APPENDICES 

Marine Corps Score Book, Harlee; Philadelphia, 
1914. 

Modern Rifle Exterior Ballistics, Bevis and Dono- 
van ; Butte, Mont., 1917. 

Small Arms Instructor's Manual; New York, 1918. 

The American Rifle, Whelen; New York, 1918. 



INDEX 



Action, automatic, inaccu- 
racy of, 89 

— bolt and eccentric posi- 
tion of cartridge, 45 

— — cartridge tilting in, 
45 

— ■ — efficacy of, in Mauser 
gun, 40 

'in sand and ice tests, 

46 
speed of, 44 

— classes of, 89 

— concentric, experiments 
in, 40 

— cut-off in, for field work, 
41 

— homogeneity of, and the 
barrel, 44 

— lever, repeaters, cart- 
ridge position in, 45 

speed of, 44 

— Mauser, 41 
weakness of, 41 

— positive safety, need for, 
46 

— screw-grip underlever, 
illustration, facing, 16 

in heavy rifles, 46 

— snap top-lever, illustra- 
tion, facing, 16 



Action, Springfield, weak- 
ness of, 41 
— ■ — magazine rifle, '03, 43 

— tilting of cartridge and, 
45 

African game, insufficiency 
of 375-bore for, 15 

— ■ unprovoked, non-danger- 
ous, 3 

Aim, effect of, lateral tip- 
ping upon, 167 

— — position of forearm 
upon, 167 

recoil upon, 168 

resistance of rifling to 

bullet upon, 168 
trigger squeeze upon, 

168 

— practice in, 170 

— tremor of sight in, 169 
Aiming, application of force 

in, 172 

— brain as objective in, 186 

— heart as objective in, 186 
• — ■ spine as objective in, 186 
— ' use of sling in, 171, 172 

— value of knowledge of 
comparative anatomy in, 
185 

Aiming exercise, 166 



253 



INDEX 



Akeley, on stalking, 174 
All-around rifle, 2 
Altitude, allowances for, in 
sighting, 153 

— effect of, upon sighting, 
151 

Ammonia, cleaning device, 
for rifles, 88, 89 

— in cleaning of Spring- 
field model, 110 

■ — neutralizing agents for, 
84 

Ammonia solution, as cop- 
per solvent, in cleaning 
high- power smokeless 
rifles, 83 

Amyl and acetone cleaning 
solution for rifles, 85 

Anatomy, comparative, 
value of, for aiming, 185 

Angle of departure, 137, 
239 

— of elevation, 239 

— of minute, 133 
Antelope, 150-grain soft- 
pointed bullet for, 15 

■ — sable, side shots on, il- 
lustration, facing, 204 

— shooting of, experiences 
in, 192 

— small bore rifle for, 174 
Aperture rear sight, 68 
Aperture sight, illustration 

of, 59 
Atmosphere, effect of, 143 
Axis of the bore, 239 
Axite, disadvantages of, 128 



Ballard action, illustration 
of shots with, facing, 38 

Banana lubricant, method 
of using, 107 

Bar sight, 61 

— types of, 57 
Barometric pressure, effect 

of, upon bullet, 150 
Barrel, length of, for mod- 
ern target rifle, 31 
' — — in Springfield and 

Krag, 22 
■ — long-range, American 
theory regarding, 23 

— Pope, 25 

field in practicality of, 

44, 45 

eight-groove, fitted to 

Krag U. S. 1898 rifle, il- 
lustration, facing, 20 

— rifle, process of manu- 
facture of, 214 

— stocking, description of, 
214, 215 

■ — well-made, advantages 
of, 223 

Bases, substitution of gun- 
cotton for nitro-glycerine, 
111 

Bead sight, 590 

Bear, preferable shots 
on, illustrations, facing, 
204 

— unprovoked, danger of, 
in case of, 3 

■ — use of magnum Mann- 
licher 256-bore for, 19 



254* 



INDEX 



Bearing of bullet, for high- 
power rifle, 96, 97 

— — for 22-caliber rifle, 
95 

Big game shooting, types of 
bullets for, 102, 103 

Binoculars, use of, in stalk- 
ing, 177 

Birds, type of rifle for, 30 

Black powder, cleaning of, 
from rifle barrels, 81 

— fine, results of use of, 
with 22-long, 115 

■ — use of, with banana lu- 
bricant, 107 

with Sharpe's pattern 

rifles, 210, 211 

Boat-Tail base, as improve- 
ment in bullet velocity, 
100 

■ — 30-caliber, illustration of, 

99 

Boat-Tailed bullet, for use 
against game, 102 

of the future, 119 

Bolt action, in sand and ice 
tests, 46 

Bore diameter bullet, su- 
periority of, for accuracy, 
26 

— — comparison of, in 
Springfield and Krag, 22 

— definition of, 241 

— relation of size of, in 
judging distances, 159 

— specifications of, for 
modern target rifle, 31 



Bow and arrow, 207 

Brain, as objective in aim- 
ing, 186 

in close quarters, 189, 

190 

Brain shot, in advisability 
of, 190 

Brass, importance of quan- 
tity and quality of, in 
cartridges, 125 

Breech load, contrasted with 
muzzle, 223 

— — in relation to cart- 
ridges, 215 

— loaders, comparison of, 
with muzzle loaders, 44 

— — use of paper patch 
with, 105 

Breech pressure, comparison 
of, in Springfield and 
Krag, 22 

— — effect of increased 
velocity and bullet weight 
upon, 121 

■ lowness of, with new 

bullets, 126 

— — with Du Pont No. 17 
powder, 118 

with Du Pont No. 75 

powder, 120 

British East Africa, au- 
thor's bag when hunting 
in, illustration, facing, 
174 

author's Safari in, 

1911., illustration, facing, 
198: 



255 



INDEX 



British East Africa, eland Bullets, boat-tailed as im 



shooting in, 192 

giraffe shot in, il- 
lustration, facing, 178 

oryx Biesa shot in, 

illustration, facing, 202 

British Enfield, 1914 type 
of rifling, illustration of, 
35 

Buffalo, record head, 197 

— shooting, dangers of, 

195, 196 

— — experiences with, at 
Burgoret River, Africa, 

196, 197 

objective in, 195 

Bullet base, deformation of, 
in relation to accuracy, 28 

Bullet deflection, by wind, 
144, 145 

Bullet drift, correction of, 
in sighting, 138 

■ — ■ — with Krag 1898, table 
for, 141 

Bullet holes and meat de- 
struction, 204 

Bullets, attributes necessary 
for, 94 

— bearing of, for high- 
power rifle, 96, 97 

— — for 22-caliber rifle, 
95 

— blunt-pointed, for Afri- 
can hunting, 16 

— boat-tailed, for use 
against game, 101 

of the future, 119 



provement in velocity, 100 

- bore diameter, superior- 
ity of, 26 

- 465-bore, soft-point, 99 
solid, 99 

- 30-caliber, 97, 99 
boat-tail, 99 

- — solid pocket, 99 

umbrella, 99 

Winchester, 99 

with expanding base, 

27 
180-grain, 123 

- composition of, changes 
in, 125 

- cone base, 101 

- conical, effect of, upon 
rifling, 213 

- delivery of, perfect, 
from muzzle, 223 

- diameter of, 26 

- effect of atmospheric 
pressure upon, 150 

temperature upon, 151 

- fit of, for 22-caliber 
rifle, 95 

- — for high-power rifle, 
96, 97 

- for big game, 102, 103 

- for high-power rifles, 96 

- for 22-long rifle, 95 

- — 30-caliber rifle, for 
non-dangerous game, 13 

- 45-grain, 3 

- 150-grain loading direc- 
tions for, 117 



256 



INDEX 



Bullet, 150-grain metal- 
jacket, illustration of 
shots with, 120 

— — ■ metal, for reduced 
load, 130 

minutes of angle for, 

142 

— — soft- pointed, for 
smaller antelope, 16 

— 172-grain Newton soft- 
point, 119 

— — soft-point, compared 
with 180-grain hard, 118 

— 176-grain Swiss pattern, 
maximum range with, 126 

— 180-grain flat-base, 
against game, 101 

minutes of angle for, 

142 

— — solid, for African 
game, 16 

jacket, illustration of 

shots with, 118 

— ■ — ■ metal j acket, for 
regulation load, 130 

Spitzer, Krag 30/40, 

table of elevations with, 141 

Springfield, turns nec- 
essary for long range 
barrels, 23 

— 200-grain Krag 1898, 
table of elevations with, 
141 

— 270-grain, soft-pointed, 
for use with Holland and 
Holland Mannlicher, for 
moose, 14 



Bullet, 300-grain, with 375 
double Holland and 42 
grains Cordite, for moose, 
14 

— high-power, lubricant for, 
111 

— 'hollow-pointed, for game, 
95, 188 

— ' — suggestion for im- 
provement in, 96 

— Krag 30/40, loads to be 
used with, 130 

— lead, for target shoot- 
ing, 103 

objections to, 130 

relation of, to accu- 
rate shooting, 5 

■ — ■ lubricant for, banana, 
107 

— i — formula for, stand- 
ard, 109 

— lubrication of, early 
methods in, 105, 106 

■ for special loads, 

130 
introduction of can- 

nellure in, 107 

— metal- j acketed, 1 09 
substitutes for, 130, 

131 

— muzzle load, 223 

— Newton, 123 
30-caliber, 99 

— normal weight, applica- 
tion of, to extreme veloc- 
ity cartridge, 20 

— Pope, 228 



257 



INDEX 



Bullet, proper proportions 
in, for killing game, 188 

— reduced load suggestion 
for, 131 

— 280-Ross, 99 

— round-point, relation of, 
to fouling, 110 

— • selective of, for Krag 
1898 and Springfield 1906 
rifles, 20, 22, 23 

— sharp-pointed, increase 
of fouling •with, 111 

— small, early uses of, in 
America, 207 

— soft-pointed compared 
with metal-jacketed, 188 

use of, in killing 

game, 187, 188 
weaknesses in, 97, 98 

— — Spitzer, 123 

— solid, for targets, 95 

— Swiss pattern, new, 125, 
126 

— temper of, 95 

— two-cylinder, 26 

— velocity of, experiments 
in, with ogive point, 101 

— water proofing, 110 

— weight of, effect of in- 
crease in, 122 

increase in, sufficiency 

of twist in, 122 

with increased ve- 
locity upon breech pres- 

• sure, 121 

— weight and stability in, 
[12 



Bullet, weights of, for 
Springfield and Krag, 22 

tabulated by Pope, 

228 

— ' Winchester expanding- 
point, improvements in, 
100 

— -Winchester, 180-grain, 
with the U. M. C. No. 8 
primer, 130 

Burgoret River, Africa, buf- 
falo shooting at, 196 

Butt plate, construction of, 
51, 52 

— shape of, 52 

■ — • vulcanite, in sporting 
rifles, 70 

Caliber of bore, definition 

of, 239 
Caliber, Pope's preferences 

for, 227 
— ' — table for, 228 
Calling, use of, in shooting 

moose, 179, 180 
Camouflage, suggestion for, 

in stalking, 176 
Camp Perry, Ohio, scene of 

Herrick Trophy Match, 

73 
Cannellure, first use of, in 

bullet lubrication, 107 
Canoe, use of, shooting 

moose, 179, 180 
Cant, definition of, 239 
Carbon, residue of, in high 

power smokeless rifles, 82 



258 



INDEX 



Cartridge cases, new types 

of, illustration of, 124 
— 'trouble with older type 

of, 124 
Cartridges, average loads, 

pressures, velocities, etc., 

of, 245 

— 375-bore, illustration, 
facing, 114 

— 465-bore, illustration, 
facing, 114 

— comparative sizes of, 
illustrated, facing, 114 

— ' for reduced load, 1 30 

— for regulation load, 129 
— ■ 150 - grain regulation, 

loading directions for, 

117 
■ — '180-grain, illustration of 

shots of, 118 
■ — ■ — ■ loading directions for, 

118 
— ■ granting and quality of 

brass in, 125 

— 5-group averages, with 
Springfield 30, table of, 
246 

■ — • Krag 30-caliber, illustra- 
tions of, facing, 114 

— Lee Metford, with 1895 
Winchester, for moose, 
14 

— 22-long rifle, illustration 
of, facing, 114 

trouble with, in 22- 

caliber repeating rifles, 
45 



Cartridges, metallic, intro- 
duction of, 209 

— military, latest pattern in, 
125 

— No. 15 Du Pont, 117 

— No. 16 Du Pont, 117 

— No. 17 Du Pont, 117 

— No. 20 Du Pont, 117 

— primer in, importance of, 
123 

— quality of, 117 

— selection of, 114 

— 22-short, illustration of, 
facing, 114 

— specifications of, for mod- 
ern target rifle, 31 

— Springfield '06 30-cali- 
ber, illustrations of, fac- 
ing, 114 

— 30-150-2, 700 Spring- 
field, 143 

— standards for, 215 

— tilting troubles with, in 
action, 45 

Caswell, Col. John, descrip- 
tion of moose shot by, 1 84 

Chase, Mr., contribution of, 
to paper cross patches for 
use with breech loaders, 
106 

Checking of stocks, sugges- 
tions regarding, 53 

Chronograph, use of, 215 

Cleaning of rifles, double, 
suggested solution for, 90 

high power, solvents 

for, 83, 84 



259 



INDEX 



Cleaning rifles, methods of, 
81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 
88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93 

Close quarter shooting, in- 
stances of, 191, 192, 193 

Colored, glass, in the over- 
coming of mirage condi- 
tions, 148, 149 

Comparative anatomy, value 
of, in aiming, 185 

Cone base, as improvement 
in bullet velocity, 101 

Conical bullet, introduction 
of, and effect upon rifling, 
213 

Cook's shade No. 1, advan- 
tages of, 148, 149 

Cooper, on flint-lock rifles, 
208 

Cordite, advantages of, 128 

■ — disadvantages of, for use 
in tropical countries, 127 

— ■ for use with Holland and 
Holland Mannlicher, for 
moose, 14 

— proper load of, 128 

— rifle, double, of 450-bore, 
uses of, 4 

Corol jelly, as protective 

coating in rifle cleaning, 

83 
Costen light, advantages of, 

74 
Cross bow, 207 
Cross patch, development of, 

106 
Crusher gauge, use of, 21 6 



Cunninghame, Major R. C, 
experience of, with 
wounded game left at 
large, 72, 73 

— opinion of, on 22-high- 
power rifle, 11 

— on stalking, 174 
Cupro-nickel, element in the 

residue of high-power 
smokeless rifles, 83 

— use of, in jackets of bul- 
lets, for high-power 
rifles, 96 

Cut-off, advice regarding 
use of, on repeating rifles, 
, 46 

Dangerous game, energy 
needed for killing of, 186 
Deer, bullet for, 130 

— cartridge for, 130 

— range for, 177 

— side shot on, illustration, 
facing, 186 

Deer-stalking, maxim of 
Lord Lovat on, 187 

Deflection of bullet, caused 
by wind, 144, 145 

Density, effect of, upon bul- 
let, 144 

Dillon, as demonstrator of 
flint-lock rifle, 208, 209 

Distance, accurate concep- 
tion of, training for, 159 

— judgment of, 154 
by comparison with 

bore of 30-caliber rifle, 158 



260 



INDEX 



Distance, judgment of, by 
comparison with height of 
front sight, illustration of, 
157 

■ — — ■ — ■ with size of bar- 
rel bore, 159 

"Dog Fight Gun," Pope's, 
illustration of, facing, 34 

— shots of, illustration of, 
facing, 36 

Double cordite rifle of 450- 

bore, uses of, 4 
Drift, bullet, definition of, 

239 

— discussion of, 138 

— Krag 1898, table for, 
141 

Du Pont, experiments with 
ogive point lengths in 
bullets, 101 

No. 17 powder, illus- 
tration of shots with, 
118 

>with U. M. C. No. 

8 primer, 1 30 

■ — ■ No. 75 powder, for re- 
duced load, 130 

illustration of shots 

with, 120 

— powder for tropical coun- 
tries, 127 

• — — 'to be marketed later, 
119 

Ejecting mechanism, disad- 
vantages of, for double 
rifles, 47 



Eland, preferable shots on, 
illustrations of, facing, 
204 

— shooting in British East 
Africa, 1911, 192 

Elcho Shield Match, shoot- 
ing conditions in, 75 

Elephant, side shot on, il- 
lustrations of, facing, 204 

Elephant shooting, compari- 
son of 256 Mannlicher 
with 475 Cordite in, 19 

— dangers of, 196 

— difficulties of front shot 
in, 203 

— objective in, 189, 202 
Elephant stalking, impor- 
tance of direction of, 176 

Elevation, changes in min- 
ute of angle for, 153 

— effect of, on range, 156 

— minimum, at 100 yards, 
142 

Elevation scale, definition 

of, 239 
Elevations, for Krag 30/40, 

table of, 141 

— — 1898, table for, 141 
— 'for Springfield '03, with 

normal load, table of, 
138 

Energy, needed for danger- 
ous game, 186 

■ non-dangerous game, 

186 

— reduction of, and accu- 
rate shooting, 5 



261 



INDEX 



Energy, remaining at 100 
yards, foot-pounds, com- 
parison of Springfield and 
Krag, 22 

Enfield, British, 1914, type 
of rifling, illustration of, 
35 

Error, aiming, determina- 
tion of average personal, 
166 

Fall of bullet, definition of, 

239 
Firing Regulations, 235 
Fit of bullet, for 22-cali- 

ber rifle, 95 

— for high-power rifle, 96 } 
97 

Flank shot, experiences with 

Eland with, 192 
Flat base bullet, 180-grains, 

for use against game, 

101 
Flint-lock rifle, demonstra- 
tion of Mr. Dillon with, 

208, 209 
Flint-locks, development of, 

in America, 207, 208 
Force, application of, in 

aiming, 172 
Fouling, absence of, with 

new bullets, 126 

— increase in, with Spring- 
field model, 110 

with short - pointed 

bullet and Springfield '06, 
111 



Fouling, increase in, with 
substitution of gun cot- 
ton base, 111 

with use of mobilubri- 

cant, 111 

— reduction of, new method 
for, 112 

Frankford Government 
shell, with the U. M. C. 
No. 8 Primer, results 
with, 130 

Front sight, bead, illustra- 
tion of, 68 

— changes in height of, 
136 

— Globe Target, illustration 
of, 60 

— protection of, 141 

— relation of, to width of 
man's face, in judging 
distances, 159 

— value of, in judging dis- 
tances, 158 

Gain twist, advantages of, 
225 

Game, bullets for boat- 
tailed, 102 

new, probable results 

of use of, 126 

1 80 - grain flat-base, 

101 

— classes of, 2 

— dangerous, existence of, 
in United States, 2 

energy needed for kill- 
ing of, 186 



262 



INDEX 



Game, heavy, energy need- 
ed for killing of, 5 

— non - dangerous, energy 
needed for killing of, 
5, 186 

existence of, in United 

States, 2 
■ type of rifle necessary 

for shooting of, 4 

— small, energy needed for 
killing of, 5 

Game bag, for hunting in 
British East Africa, illus- 
tration of, 174 

Game hunting, bullets for, 
188, 189 

Game shooting, automatic 
action for, 39 

— bullets for, hollow-point, 
95 

— Sheard gold bead front 
in, 7 

— sights in, King, 7 
Lyman, 48 

Lyman 103 tang, 7 

snap work in, 219 

■ — stalking in, 174 

German Mauser, 1918 type 
of rifling, illustration of, 
35 

Giraffe, shot in British East 
Africa, illustration, fac- 
ing, 178 

— 'Stalking of, at Isiolo 
River, Africa, 178 

Glossary, 239, 241 



Graphite, use of, for rifle 
cleaning in match shoot- 
ing, 110 

in water proofing bul- 
lets, 110 

Gravity, effect of, upon bul- 
let, 143, 144 

Grey, Mr. George, death of, 
9 

Grip, strengthening of, 54 

Grooves, definition of, 241 

— depth of, in 22-caliber 
rifles, 95 

— number of, in 22-caliber 
rifles, 95 

Grouse, type of rifle for, 3 
Gun cotton base, substitu- 
tion of, for nitro-glycer- 
ine, 111 
Gun powder, introduction 
of, 207 

Harlee, Capt. Marine Corps 
Team, in Herrick Trophy 
Match, 77 

Hayes, William, as contribu- 
tor to Schalke loading 
system, 219 

Heart, as objective in aim- 
ing, 186 

Heavy game, energy needed 
for killing of, 5 

— need of 450-bore for, 
17 

Heavy rifles, actions in, ad- 
vice regarding position of 
forward sling lug, 48 



263 



INDEX 



Herrick Trophy Match, 
score card of Massachu- 
setts team in, facing, 76 

— ■ shooting at, description 
of, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77 

— telescopic sights used in, 
75 

— weapons of Ohio, U. S. 
Marine Corps and Massa- 
chusetts teams in, 75, 76 

-—work of teams in, 75, 76 

High-power bullets, lubri- 
cant with, 111 

Hippopotamus, preferable 
shots on, illustrations of, 
facing, 204 

Hippopotamus shooting, ob- 
jective in, 198' 

Hold, proper tensing of 
muscles for, in shooting, 
172 

Holland & Holland double 
375 Cordite rifle, illus- 
trated, facing, 16 

Hollow-point bullets, for 
game shooting, 95 

— for use with 22-caliber 
long rifle, 96 

— 'improvement of, 96 
Hoppe Nitro Solvent No. 9, 
for cleaning of powder 
residue, in rifle barrels, 
82 

— for cleaning double rifles, 
91 

— for cleaning high-power 
rifles, 84 

264 



Hot-water funnel, for use in 
rifle cleaning, 92 

Hudson, Dr. W. G., maker 
of W. A. powder formula, 
for rifle cleaning, 85 

Ignition, experiments in, 124 
Isiolo River, Africa, experi- 
ences stalking giraffe at, 
178 
— ' illustration of Reticula 
Rothschild's shot at, fac- 
ing, 178 

Jack lights, uselessness of, 

74 
Jackson, Sir F. J., opinion 

of, on stalking, 174 

King sight, value of, to game 

shooting, 7 
Kneeling position, rule for, 

161 
Knowles, Lt. Gov. of 

Uganda, shooter of record 

buffalo head, 197 
Krag rifle, use of the W. A. 

powder formula for clean- 
ing, 85 
Krag 30-caliber cartridges, 

illustrations of, facing, 

114 
— 1898, 30/40 cartridge 

groups, tables of leads, 

pressures, velocities, etc., 

for, 245 



INDEX 



Krag, SO/40, best loads to 

be used with, 130 
table of elevations for, 

141 

— 1 898, table of elevations 
with, 141 

— U. S. model, specially 
fitted, illustration, facing, 
20 

Krag - Jorgensen, adoption 
of, by War Dept., 211 

Lands, definition of, 241 

Lead, cleaning of, from 
rifle barrels, 81 

Lead bullets, requirements 
of, for target shooting, 
103 

Lee Metford cartridge with 
1895 Winchester, for 
moose, 14 

Lesmok, advantages of use 
of, with 22-long cartridge, 
116 

Lever action repeaters, over- 
coming of cartridge diffi- 
culties in, 45 

Light, problem of, in sight- 
ing, 151 

Line of fire, definition of, 
240 

Line of sight, definition of, 
240 

Lion and lioness, shot at 
Stony Althi River, illus- 
tration of, facing, 194 



Lion hunting, experiences 

in, at Stony Althi River, 

Africa, 193, 194 
Lioness, preferable shots on, 

illustrations of, facing,204< 
Loading, old methods of, 

108, 109 

— Schalke system of, 219 

■ — Schalke and Pope sys- 
tems of, differentiation of, 
220 

— *use of linen or leather 
patch in, 105 

— use of paper patch in, 
105 

Loading directions, 150- 

grain cartridge, 117 
■ — 180-grain cartridge, 118 
Loads, for Pope muzzle 
rifles, 233, 234 

— for 465 rifle of 11 to 12 
pounds, 480-grain bullet, 
128 

■ — ■ muzzle and breech, con- 
trasted, 223 

— ■ reduced, suggestions for, 
130, 131 

— 'Suggestions for, 130 

• — 'tables of, with pressures 
and velocities, in actual 
firing, 244-246 

Locks, suggestions for meth- 
ods of keeping, in condi- 
tion, 91 

Long range match rifles, use 
of paper patch with, 105, 
106 



265 



INDEX 



Lovat, Lord, maxim of, re- 
garding deer stalking, 
187 

Lubricant, banana, method 
of use of, 107 

■ — of higher melting point, 
experiments with, 110 

■ — ' standard, formula for, 
109 

Lubrication of bullets, early 
methods in, 105, 106 

— — for special loads, 
130 

— ■ — > introduction of can- 

nellure, for, 107 
Lyman sights, 3/32 inch, 

advantages of, 67 

— rear peep sight, illustra- 
tions of, 66 

■ — • No. 48 rear peep sight, 
for Springfield, illustra- 
tion of, 69 

for game shooting, 7 

-on 30-caliber Spring- 
field, illustration, facing, 
14 

■ graduations for min- 
ute of rise in, 1 36 

— -No. 103 peep rear sight, 
with wind gauge, illustra- 
tion of, 32 

< graduations for min- 
ute of rise in, 1 36 

tang rear sight, illus- 
trated, facing, 20 

— ■ — — 'in game shooting, 
7 



Macaine rest, 229 
Malcolm, telescopes, 80 
Mannlicher rifle, for non- 
dangerous game, 8 
Mann, F. W., advocacy of 
dove-tail taper base by, 
79 

— experiments of, impor- 
tance of deformation of 
base, as shown by, 28 

with concentric action, 

40 

— theory of, regarding bul- 
let of bore diameter, 
26 

Manton, Joseph, manufac- 
turer of flint-locks, 207 

Martini - Henry, 450 - bore, 
regulations concerning, in 
British colonies, 18 

Massachusetts Team, score 
card of, in Herrick 
Trophy Match, 76 

Mauser, illustration of, 35 

— weak point in energy of, 
8 

Mauser rifle, action in 
weakness of, 41 

— efficacy of bolt action 
in, 40 

— uses of, for non-danger- 
ous game, 8 

Max Wax, for rifle clean- 
ing, 90 

Mercury amalgam, for 
cleaning lead from rifle 
barrels, 81, 82 



266 



INDEX 



Mercury, fulminate of, ef- 
fect of, upon flash, 114 
Merrill, on moose, 184 
Metal-jacketed bullet, com- 
parison of, with soft- 
pointed, 188 

— substitutes for, 130, 131 
Micrometer, uses of, in 

sighting, 133 
— ■ on rear sight on 30-cali- 
ber Springfield, illus- 
trated, facing, 14 

— Pope, fitted to Krag U. S. 
model 1898, illustrated, 
facing, 20 

Miles, Harvey, author's 
guide in moose hunting, 
182 

Minute of angle, changes in, 
for elevation, 153 

— definition of, 133-135 

— for 150-grain bullet, 
142 

— for 1 80-grain bullet, 
142 

— relation of, to hundred 
yards, 154 

Mirage, causes of, 147 

— definition of, 241 

— illustration of, facing, 
148 

Mobilubricant, experiments 
with, 111 

— method of use of, 112 
Moddite, advantages of, 

128 
— 'proper load of, 128 



Moisture, effect of, upon 

sighting, 153 
— illustrated, facing 20 
Moose, Merrill on, 184 
— 'preferable shots on, il- 
lustrations of, facing, 190 

— range for, 177 

— ■ rifle and load for, 14 
■ — shot on Patapedia River, 
illustration of, facing, 182 

— unprovoked, non-danger- 
ous, 3 

— i danger in case of, 3 

— hunting on Patapedia 
River, Canada, 181, 182 

Moose shooting, calling in, 

179 
— ' canoe in, 1 79 
Mounts, Winchester barrel, 

20 
Muzzle load, advantages of, 

223 
Muzzle loaders, linen or 

leather patch formerly 

used with, 105 
— ■ success of, 44 
Muzzle velocity, comparison 

of, in Springfield and 

Krag, 22 
Muzzles, in relation to bul- 
let, 223 

— leather stalking, disad- 
vantages of, 69 

National Rifle Association, 
fostering of 22-caliber 
practice by, 34 



267 



INDEX 



National Rifle Association, 
1919 meeting of, flint- 
lock rifle demonstration 
at, 309 

— work of, for target drill, 
112 

Neidner cleaner, for rifles, 
illustration of, 87 

Newton bullets, 30-caliber, 

99 

— ' desirability of, 123 

Night sights, advantages of 
Costen light as, 74 

Nitro-glycerine base, disad- 
vantages of, 127 

— 'Superseded by gun cot- 
ton base, 111 

Non-dangerous game, 30- 
caliber rifle for, 13 

— ' energy needed for killing 
of, 5, 186 

O'clock definition of, 240 
Off-hand position, rule for, 

160 
Ogive point, differing 

lengths of, for improving 

bullet velocity, 101 
Open rear sight, sometime 

necessity of, 68 
Oryx biesa, shot in British 

East Africa, facing, 202 

Pachyderms, type of rifle 

necessary for, 3 
Patapedea River, Canada, 

moose hunting at, 181-2 



Patapedea River, Can., 
shooting of giant moose 
at, illustration, facing, 182 

Patches, linen and leather, 
105 

— paper, 106 

Pease, Sir Alfred, services 
of, at death of Mr. 
George Grey, 9 

Peep sights, functions of, 
63 

— proper position for, 70 
Percival, A. B., experience 

of, with baby rhino, 200, 
201 

— famous African white 
hunter, 193 

— second rhino anecdote 
concerned with, 201 

Petersen, comparison of, as 
barrel maker, of Scheut- 
zen rifles with Pope, 32 

Pistol grip, suggestion re- 
garding action of, 55 

— > — checking of, 53 

Plate, fitted rubber recoil 
burr, on Holland & Hol- 
land 375 cordite, illus- 
trated on, 16 

— ■ rubber recoil butt, on 
Purdey double 465 cor- 
dite rifle, illustration, fac- 
ing, 16 

Pope, ammonia for rifle 
cleaning, first used by, 85 

— ■ caliber preferences of, 
227 



268 



INDEX 



Pope, contribution of, to 
bullets, 27 

— — to perfection of 
Scheutzen rifles, 30 

— ' — ' toward mounting of 
telescope by, 79 

— "Dog Fight Gun," 34 
illustration of, facing, 

34 
— ' false muzzle and bullet 
seater, illustration of, 
227 

— 8-groove barrel, fitted to 
Krag U. S. model 1898, 
illustrated, facing, 20 

— mercury amalgam, prepa- 
ration, for cleaning of 
rifle barrels, 82 

— 32 -inch, on 32/40 
Scheutzen rifle, illustra- 
tion of, facing, 40 

— U. S. 1898, type of ri- 
fling, illustration of, 35 

— — . 1903 type of rifling, il- 
lustration of, 35 

Pope barrels, description of, 
218-234 

— for Scheutzen rifles, 32 
— ■ illustration of shots with, 

facing, 38 

— impracticability of, for 
field use, 40, 44, 45. 

— on 30-caliber Springfield, 
illustrated, facing, 14 

Pope micrometer, fitted to 
Krag U. S. model 1898, 
illustrated, facing, 20 



Pope muzzle loading outfit, 

227 
— ' rifles, directions for han- 
dling of, 231-234 
Pope peep rear sight with 

wind gauge, illustration 

of, 32 
Pope rifling as used in 

Scheutzen target rifles, 

illustration of, 220 
Pope system, summary of 

advantages of, 226 
■ — • differentiation of, from 

Schalke system, 220 
Pope table for calibers and 

weights, 228 
Position, avoidance of strain 

in, 165 

— best for sporting pur- 
poses, 164 

■ — 'definition of, 160 

— kneeling, rule for, 161 

— of forearm, instructions 
regarding, 167 

— offhand, illustration of, 
facing, 160 

rule for, 160 

— ■ prone, rule for, 163 

— sitting, rule for, 161 
Post light, illustration of, 

59 
Powder, axite, disadvantages 
of, 128 

— black, cleaning of, from 
rifle barrels, 81 

— black, evolution of, 216, 
217 



269 



INDEX 



Powder charge, grains, com- 
parison of, Springfield 
and Krag, 22 

— i cordite in, advantages of, 
128 

— ' — 'disadvantages of, 127 

— Du Pont No. 17, with U. 
M. C. No. 8 Primer, 130 

— •■ — with 48.7 grains, illus- 
tration of ten shots, 118 

— >Du Pont No. 75, for re- 
duced load, 130 

— ■ — No. 75, 19 grains, il- 
lustration of groups shot, 
120 

— i nitro-glycerine base in, 
disadvantages of, 127 

— * for use in tropical coun- 
tries, 127 

— loading directions as re- 
gards 150-grain cartridge, 
117 

— ' moddite, advantages of, 
128 

— reduced load suggestion, 
131 

— residue, use of Hoppe 
nitrosolvent No. 9 for de- 
struction of, 82 

■ — i smokeless, of present 
day, 217 

'as creator of need for 

high melting point lubri- 
cant, 109 

— solvent, for cleaning high 
power smokeless rifles, 

iog 



Powder to be manufactured 
in the future, character- 
istics of, 119 

Pressure, atmospheric, effect 
of, upon bullet, 150 

— 'as regards 150-grain 
cartridge, 117 

— 'gauge for judging of, 
216 

— tables of, with loads and 
velocities, in actual firing, 
244-246 

Primer, comparison of, in 
Springfield and Krag, 
22 

— ■ experiments with, in Eng- 
land, 124 

— ' importance of, in cart- 
ridge discussion, 123 

■ — ' loading directions as re- 
gards 150-grain cartridge, 
117 

— reduced load suggestion, 
131 

— U. M. C. No. 8, for re- 
duced load, 130 

for regulation load, 

129 
Prone position, methods for 

employment of sling in, 

163, 164 

— rule for, 163 

Protective coloration, im- 
portance of, in stalking, 
176 

Purdey, intercepting block 
suggested by, 47 



270 



INDEX 



Purdey Double 465 Cordite 
Rifle, illustrated, facing, 
16 

Quartering shot, advice re- 
garding, 189 

Quebec, proof of non-dan- 
ger of unprovoked moose, 



Rabbits, type of rifle nec- 
essary for shooting of, 
3 

Range, effect of differences 
in visibility on, 154 

— ■ — 'elevation on, 156 

'wind on, 144, 145 

— estimation of, 154 

— > in the field, determination 
of, 154 

■ — ' maximum, for outdoor 
shot, 175 

— ' — with 150-grain bullet, 
126 

— ■ — 'with 180-grain bullet, 
126 

■ — short, for target work, re- 
duced load for, 131 

— standard measurement 
of, 154 

— table of, 126 
Repeating rifles, use of cut- 
off in, 46 

Repeater, 22-caliber, uses 

of, 4 
Rear sight, description of, 

56 



Rear sight, elevation of 
peep hole in, 133 

— Lyman-48, on 30-caliber 
Springfield, illustration, 
facing, 14 

■ No. 103 peep, for 

modern target rifle, 32 

No. 103 tang, as af- 
fecting sight radius, 135 

— Pope peep, for modern 
target rifles, 32 

— relation of, to sight 
radius, 134 

— Soule, with wind gauge, 
33 

Recoil, effect of, on aim, 168 
— 'lighter, relation of re- 
duced velocity and re- 
duced energy to, 5 i 
Resistance of object hit to 
bullets, 94 

— rifling to bullet, as af- 
fecting aim, 168 

Rests, discussion of, by 
Pope, 229 

— ' Micaine, information to 
be derived from, 229 

Reticula Rothschilds 
(giraffe), description of 
shooting of, 179 

— ' shot at Isiolo River, Af- 
rica, illustration, facing, 
178 

Reticules, for use with tele- 
scope, 79 

Rifles, all-around, non« 
existence of, 2 



271 



INDEX 



Rifles, 275-bore, as the bal- 
listic ideal, 8 

— 375-bore Holland & Hol- 
land Mannlicher, for 
moose, 14 

— i — unreliability of, 13 

— 405-bore, unreliability of, 
13 

— ■ 450-bore, advantages of, 
against heavy game, 17 

■ — ' — double-cordite, uses 
of, 4 

energy of, 5 

— '465- and 475-bore, rea- 
sons for use of, 18 

— medium-bore, high veloc- 
ity, insufficiency of, 
against non - dangerous 
game, 13 

— small bore, high-velocity, 
evidences of unreliability 
of, 10 

■ — i — ■ repeating, evolution 
of, 211 

— ■ — use of, to avoid stalk- 
ing, 174 

— ■ breech-loading, introduc- 
tion of, 209 

— 22-caliber, bullets for, 
95 

— ' — grooves in, 95 

long, bullets for use 

with, 96 
long chief cartridge 

difficulty with, 114 
long sight for, 142 



Rifles, 22-caliber, method of 
cleaning of, 92 

— — repeating, uses of, 4 
repeating, with 22 - 

long-rifle cartridge, tend- 
ency to trouble with, 45 

— < — twist generally in use 
in, for long rifle, 95 

— i — 'twist generally in use 
in, for short cartridge, 95 

— 30-caliber, energy of, 4 
two types of: Krag 

1898 model and Spring- 
field 1906, 20 

— — 'value of, in judging 
distances, 158 

— — with sufficient weight 
bullet, recommendation of, 
for non-dangerous game, 
13 

— • 32 - caliber flint - lock, 
early uses for, 207 

— 35-caliber, unreliability 
of, 13 

— 38-50-caliber, accuracy 
of, 209 

— 45-50-caliber flint-lock, 
development of, 208 

■ — ■ commercial 30/30, claims 
for, 212 

— 450-cordite double, uses 
of, 4 

— 465 cordite, illustration 
of ten shots, 129 

— 475 cordite, comparison 
of with 256 Mannlicher, 
for elephant shooting, 19 



272 



INDEX 



Rifles, double, ejecting me- 
chanism in, 47 

— — ■ Hoppe solvent in 
cleaning of, 91 

— ' — ■ swabbing solution for 
cleaning of, 90 

— English double, 212 

— evolution of, 207-217 

— express, double, action 
of, 39 

— ' — ' suggestions for sight 
on, 62, 63 

— ■ flint-lock, illustration of, 
facing, 208 

— 'heavy, position of for- 
ward sling lug in, 48 

• supremacy of under- 

lever screw grip in, 46 

— ' Henry, 44-caliber rim- 
fire 16 shot repeating, 210 

— high - power, description 
of bullets for use with, 
96 

fit and bearing of 

bullets in, 96, 97 

— — smokeless, cleaning 
difficulties in, 82 

— Holland, 375 double, 
comparison of, with 405 
Winchester, 14 

— ' — cordite double, against 

moose, 183 
illustration, facing, 

16 

— Krag 30, table of loads, 
pressures, velocities, etc., 
for, 245 

273 



Rifles, Krag 30/40, com- 
parison of, with Winches- 
ter, 14 

— — U. S. model 1898, 
specially fitted, illus- 
trated, facing, 20 

i — Krag - Jorgensen, adop- 
tion of, by War Depart- 
ment, 211 

— ■ long range match, use of 
paper patch in, 105, 106 

— Mannlicher, for non-dan- 
gerous game, 8 

256, for non-danger- 
ous game, 18 

— — ■ Magnum, 256-bore 
with pointed bullet, 19 

— makes of: Burnside, 210 

— Martini-Henry, 450-bore, 
regulations concerning, in 
British colonies, 18 

— Mauser, for non-danger- 
ous game, 8 

— - — 'Weak point in energy 
of, 8 

— military, actions of, 39 
square top in front 

sight in, 65 
— ' — target, best, 6 

— 9-millimeter, unreliabil- 
ity of, 13 

— ' Newton, tang lengthen- 
ing feature in, 54 

— peep sight with, advan- 
tages of, 63 

— percussion, adoption of, 
209 



INDEX 



Rifles, percussion, manufac- 
ture of, 209 

■ target, evolution of, 

209 

target, illustration of, 

facing, 208 

— Pope muzzle loading, di- 
rections for handling of, 
231-234 

— Pope's 30-caliber, long- 
range, illustration of, 25 

— i Purdey cordite double, 
465, illustrated, facing, 
16 

— repeating, action of, 39 

invention of, 210 

«— — 45, 45/70, manufac- 
ture of, 211 

use of cut-off in, 46 

— 'Ross, 280-bore, with 145- 

grain bullet, unreliability 

of, 9 
— ' — for non-dangerous 

game, 8 
— • — tendency to bullet 

breaking of, 8 

— Savage, 22 high-power, 
evidence of Major R. C. 
Cunninghame, in discus- 
sion of, 11 

— Scheutzen 32/40 and 38/ 
55-caliber, demonstration 
of superior qualities of 
bullet of bore diameter in, 
26 

— semi-breech loader, de- 
scription of, 210 

274 



Rifles, service, advantages of 
sight protector on, 69 

— Sharpe, 210, 211 
— ■ — use of paper patch 

with, 105 

and Burnside patterns 

(semi - breech loaders), 
210 

— Sharpens "Old Reliable," 
211 

— — ■ — illustration of, fac- 
ing, 210 

— ' Springfield, for use in 
shooting non - dangerous 
game, 8 

method for cleaning 

of, 86 

— Springfield 1903, com- 
parison of, with 375 cor- 
dite, for moose and cari- 
bou, 15 

with 375 cordite 

and 405 Winchester, 16 

table of elevations for, 

138 

— ■ — 'uses of, 4 

— ■ Springfield 1906, ballis- 
tic data for, 138 

30, table of five car- 
tridge group averages, 
246 

— — sporting, measure- 
ments of stock in, 51, 52 

— ' — ■ 22-caliber, as under- 
study for, 7 

30-caliber, '03, illus- 
trated, facing, 14 



INDEX 



Rifles, single-shot, action of, 

— i sporting, accuracy in, 2 
— ■ — requirements of, 2 
— ' — ' sufficient power in, 2 

— types of, 1 

— ■ — i characteristics of, 4 

for game shooting, 3 

■ — ' — ■ (1) for shooting 
grouse, rabbits, birds, 
small animals, 3 
— ■ — ' (2) for shooting non- 
dangerous game, 3, 4 
(3) for shooting larg- 
er pachyderms, 4 

— Winchester, 6 

22-caliber in action, 

illustrated, facing, 6 

— i — ' — ■ with sporting stock, 
illustrated, facing, 6 

405, comparison of, 

with 375 double by Hol- 
land special, 14 

■ 30/30, insufficiency of, 

for moose, 14 

— ■ — 30/40, single-shot, 
with special fittings, illus- 
trated, facing, 20 

—. — 44/40, model 1873, il- 
lustration of, facing, 
210 

— — repeating, evolution 
of, 210 

— > — smokeless, high-veloc- 
ity small-bore, 211 

— 'With volcanic magazine, 
invention of, 210 



Rifle barrels, cleaning of 
black powder from, 81 

— ■ mercury amalgam for 
cleaning of, 21, 22 

— Pope, 25-caliber, 218 

— ■ — description of, 218- 

234 
— ■ process of manufacture 

of, 214 
Rifle cleaning, ammonia 

cleaning device, illustra- 
tion of, 89 
■ — ■ ammonia neutralizer in, 

84 

corol jelly in, 84 

— ■ — hot-water funnel in, 

92 

' solvent in, 83 

— ' labor saving dodges in, 

93 
■ — Max Wax, oil preserva~ 

tive, for use in, 90 
■ mercurial ointment in, 

85 

— method of, for 22-cali- 
ber, 92 

— ' — ' Neidner cleaner for, 
87 

— ■ powder solvent in, 84 

■ — rod advocated by Lt. Col. 
Whelen for, 85 

— W. A. powder formula 
for, method of use of, 
85 

Rifle Match, Palmer, accu- 
racy of, 23 



275 



INDEX 



Rifle shooting, advantages 
of, 37 

— advantages of training 
in, 213 

Rifle shots, 22-short target, 
illustration of, facing, 38 
Rifle tests, 215 
Rifling, function of, 213 
— 'introduction of, 213 

— Pope's, superiority of, 
25 

— ■ specifications of, for 
modern target rifle, 31 

— 'types of 30-caliber rifles, 
illustrations of, 35 

Rhinoceros, preferable shots 
on, illustrations of, fac- 
ing, 204 

— 'tendency of, to charge, 
200, 201 

Rhinoceros birds, necessity 
of stalking, in rhinoceros 
shooting, 199 

Rhinoceros shooting, anec- 
dotes regarding, 200, 201, 
202 

— experiences in, 199 

— objective in, 198 
Roosevelt, Theodore, opin- 
ion of, on stalking, 174 

— photograph of, taken in 
Uganda, Frontispiece 

— ■ recommendation of small- 
bore repeater by, 211 

Ross rifle, 280-bore, 145- 
grain bullet, unreliability 
of, 9 



Ross rifle, for non-dangerous 
game, 8 

— tendency to bullet break- 
ing of, 8 

Ross 145-grain bullet, expe- 
riences with in game hunt- 
ing, 188, 189 

Saferi, the author's, 1911, 
British East Africa, illus- 
tration, facing, 198 

Safety bolts, 46 

Savage, 22-caliber high- 
power, evidence of Major 
R. C. Cunninghame on, in 
discussion of, 11 

— ' commercial rifle, 6 

Schalke, method of loading, 
219 

Schalke system, advantages 
of, for offhand shooting, 
219 

— ■ — differentia t i o n of, 
from Pope's, 220 

Scheutzen rifles, Pope's con- 
tribution towards perfect- 
ing of, 30 

Score sheet, author's, 242, 
243 

Selous, opinion of, on stalk- 
ing, 174 

Sharpe pattern, semi-breech 
loader, 210 

Sharpe's "Old Reliable," 211 

Shaw, Capt. Drury Team in 
Herrick Trophy Match, 
77 



276 



INDEX 



Sheard gold bead front 
sight, illustrated, 7 

— need for, in game shoot- 
ing, 7 

Shell, Frankford Arsenal, 
for reduced load, 130 

■ for regulation load, 

130 

— 'loading directions as re- 
gards 150-grain cartridge, 
117 

— > reduced load suggestion 
for, 131 

Shellac, advantages of use 
of, in waterproofing bul- 
lets, 110 

Shocking strength, impor- 
tance of, in matter of bul- 
lets, 94 

Shooting, accurate, relation 
of lead bullet to, 5 

— — — reduced velocity 
and (reduced energy to, 
5 

— buffalo, experiences with, 
195, 196, 197 

■ — deer, suggestions for, 
187 

— eland (antelope), experi- 
ences with, 192 

— ■ elephant, difficulties of 
front shot in, 203 

— — 'objective in, 202 

< — fatigue in, elimination of, 
222 

— ' hippopotamus, sugges- 
tions for, 198 



Shooting, lion, experiences 
with, 192 

■ — ■ rhinoceros, anecdotes re- 
garding, 200, 201, 202 

— ■ — • directions regarding, 
198 

Shooting galleries, advan- 
tages of, and need for, 
SQ 

Short range shots, accuracy 
of 19 grains Du Pont No. 
75 for, 120 

Shots, bear, illustrations of, 
facing, 204 

— ■ eland, illustrations of, 
facing, 204 

— elephant, side, illustra- 
tions of, facing, 204 

— hippopotamus, illustra- 
tions of, facing, 204 

— lioness, illustrations of, 
facing, 204 

— moose, illustrations of, 
facing, 190 

— rhinoceros, illustration 
of, facing, 204 

— > sable antelope, illustra- 
tion of, facing, 204 

— with "Dog Fight Gun," 
illustration of, facing, 36 

Shoulder shot, evidence of 

occasional failure with, 

190, 191 
Shoulders, as an objective in 

aiming, 186 
■ — ' as shooting ob j ective in 

close quarters, 180 



m 



INDEX 



Shoulder, as shooting ob- 
jective, with buffalo, 195 

Side-on shot, description of, 
in game shooting, 185, 
186, 187, 188, 189 

Sight, line of definition of, 
240 

Sights, alignment of, 213 

— aperture, illustration of, 

59 
— ' aperture rear, 68 
■ — bar, discussion of, 61 
— ■ barley corn, illustration 

of, 59 

— beach, illustration of, 

59 
— ' combination of, advan- 
tages of, 3, 68 

— combinations of, bad, 58 
good, 58 

undesirable, 59 

■ — cross-hair, targets to be 

used with, 79 
■ — essentials of, 56 

— front bead, illustration 
of, 68 

■ globe target, illustra- 
tion of, 60 

■ — ■ — open, illustration of, 
59 

protectors for, 69 

— ' — Sheard gold bead, 
value of, to game shoot- 
ing, 7 

— ' — ' square-topped, disad- 
vantages of, in military 
rifles, 65 



Sight, front, square-topped, 
illustration of, 60 

— in modern target rifles, 
31 

— King pattern, value of, in 
game shooting, 7 

— ■ Lyman, 3/32 inch, ad- 
vantages of, 67 

48, value of, to game 

shooting, 7 

103 tang, value of, to 

game shooting, 7 

— night, Costen light, ad- 
vantages of, 74 

or gloaming, illustra- 
tion of, 73 

Jack light, uselessness 

of, 74 

■ — object of, 56 

— open, on Purdey double, 
564 cordite rifle, illustrat- 
ed, facing, 16 

rear, sometime neces- 
sity of, 68 
• — peep, functions of, 63 

proper position for, 

70 

— plain iron, advantages of, 
74 

— Pope's preferences in, 
230 

— Post, illustration of, 59 

■ — protector for, pattern for, 
69 

— rear, English micrometer 
on: 30-caliber Springfield, 
illustrated, facing, 14 



278 



INDEX 



Sight, rear, with Pope mi- Si 
crometer, fitted to Krag 
U. S. model 1898, illus- 
trated, facing, 20 

- — rear peep, Lyman, illus- 
trations of, 66 

— — Lyman, No. 48, for 
Springfield, illustration 
of, 69 

— rear tang, Lyman, on 
Holland & Holland 
Double 375 Cordite, illus- 
trated, facing, 16 

Lyman No. 103, fitted 

to 3 0/40 Winchester 
single - shot, illustrated, 
facing, 25 

— rear V-shaped, 62 

— target, 64 

— telescopic, 77, 230 

definition of, 241 

disadvantages of, 74, 

75 

prismatic, disadvan- 
tages of, 79 

Winchester 5 A, best 

commercial, 78 

Sight radius, definition of, 
240 

— effect of changes in rear 
sight on, 135, 136 

— relation of, to rear sight, 
134 

Sight tipping, effect of, 

upon aims, 167 
Sighting, allowance for 

higher altitudes in, 153 

5TO 



ghting, allowance for, vel- 
ocity in, 153 

altitude and temperature 
in, 151 

angle of departure in, 
definition of, 137 
bullet drift in, correction 
of, 138 

correction of errors in, 
170 

effect of changes in rear 
sight on, 133, 134, 135, 
136 

— height of front sight 
on, 136 

moisture on, 153 

■importance of, 133 
light in, 151 

minute of angle in, defini- 
tion of, 133 

traj ectory and, defini- 
tion of, 137 

triangle of, discussion 
of, 236-238 

•triangle of, finding of, 
236 

1 tremor in, correction of, 
170 

•waver in, correction of, 
170 

illustration of, 169 

•with Lyman No. 48 
sights, 136 

• — No. 103 sights, 136 
with English double cor- 
dite rifles, 136 

• rest, use of, 236 



INDEX 



Sitting position, rule for, 

161 
Slide bar, in sighting, 133 
Sling, 207 
1 — correction of errors in 

sighting, while using, 

171, 172 

— methods for employment 
of, in prone position, 163, 
164 

■ — 'value of, 54 

Small animals, type of rifle 
necessary for shooting of, 
3 

Small Arms Firing Regula- 
tions, U. S., 1913, ex- 
tracts from, 235-238 

— Manual, aiming exercise 
in, 166 

Small game, energy needed 
for killing of, 5 

Soft-pointed bullets, com- 
parison of, with metal- 
jacketed, 188 

172-grain with 180- 

grain solid, 118 

• — for killing game, 187, 
188 

— ' weaknesses in, 97, 98 

Solid bullets, for game 
shooting, 95 

— 'for use with 22-caliber 
long rifle, 96 

Solid pocket, 30-caliber bul- 
let, illustration of, 99 

Spine, as an objective in 
aiming, 186 



Spine shot, at close quarters, 

192 
Spitzer bullets, desirability 

of, 123 

— replacement of, by the 
blunt-pointed, for African 
hunting, 16 

— 180-grain, Krag 30/40, 
table of elevations with, 
141 

Sporting, best positions for, 

164 
Sporting rifle, accuracy of, 

2 
Sporting stock, need for, in 

Savage rifle, 7 
in Winchester rifle, 7 

— on 30-caliber Springfield, 
illustrated, facing, 14 

Springfield action, weak- 
ness of, 41 

Springfield-Lyman No. 48 
rear peep sight for, illus- 
tration of, 69 

Springfield magazine rifle, 
'03, diagram of, action of, 
43 

Springfield rifle, for non- 
dangerous game, 8 

— method of cleaning, 86 

— '03, comparison of, with 
375, for moose and cari- 
bou, 14 

uses of, 4 

— — with normal load, 
table of elevations for, 
138 



280 



INDEX 



Springfield '06 30-caliber 
cartridges, illustrations 
of, facing, 114 

150-grain bullet, bal- 
listic data for, 139 

— table of elevations for, 
138 

— 30, table of five cartridge 
group averages for, 246 

— with 180-grain solid bul- 
let, adoption of, for Afri- 
can game, 16 

Square-topped front sight, 

illustrative of, 60 
Stalking, binoculars in, 177 
— 'Camouflage in, 176 

— of deer, maxim of Lord 
Lovat on, 187 

— ■ — range for, 177 

— of elephant, importance 
of direction of wind in, 
176 

— of giraffe, at Isiolo River, 
178 

— of moose, range for, 177, 

— of rhino birds, in rhinoc- 
eros shooting, 199 

— 'opinions on, 174 

— pleasures in, 174 

— i protective coloration in, 

importance of, 176 
— i small-bore rifle in, 1 74 

— telescope in, 177 

— wind, direction in, 175, 
176 

Stock, American black wal- 
nut for, 49 



Stock, English or Circassian 
walnut for, 49 

— grain of, 50 

— in modern target rifles, 
31 

— 'measurements for, 50 

— suggestion for strength- 
ening of, 54 

Stony Althi River, Africa, 

shooting experiences at, 

193 
Striking energy, importance 

of, in matter of bullets, 

94 

Tang, lengthening of, for 

strengthening stock, 

53 
Target practice, lessons to 

be learned from, 38 
Target rifle, as descendant 

of percussion rifle, 209 
■ — military, 6 

— Scheutzen, 30 

Target sight, illustration of, 
64 

Target shooting, compara- 
tive scores in, with dif- 
ferent barrels, 223 

— 'lead bullets for, 103 

— need of refinements in, 

219 

— use of force in, 172 
Targets, for use with cross- 
hair sight, 79 

— short range, reduced lead 
for, 131 



281 



INDEX 



Tarlton, experiences of, 
with baby rhino, 200 

— possessor of ostrich cor- 
ral, 200 

Telescopes, advantages of, 
80 

— disadvantages of, in 
stalking, 177 

■ — makers of, 80 

— mounting of, 78, 79 

— mounts, on "Dog Fight 
Gun," illustration of, fac- 
ing, 34 

— Zeiss prismatic, fitted to 
30/40 Winchester single- 
shot rifle, illustrated, fac- 
ing, 20 

Telescopic sight, commer- 
cial, 78 

— definition of, 241 
Temperature, effect of, up- 
on bullet, 151 

Theba River, Africa, eland 
shooting at, 192 

Tin, advantages of, for re- 
duction of metal fouling, 
113 

— incorporation of, in pow- 
der of future, 119 

Trajectory, definition of, 
137, 240 

— table of, 126 

Tremor of sight, correction 

of, 170 
— 'illustration of, 169 
Triangle of sighting, causes 

of abnormal shape in, 236 



Triangle of sighting, causes 
of error in, 237 

— finding of, 236 

— verifying of, 237 
Triggers, checking, 47 

— pattern of, in modern tar- 
get rifles, 31 

Purdey intercepting 
block, 47 

Trigger guard, advice re- 
garding position of tang 
portion, 48 

Trigger pulls, suggestions 
regarding, 47 

Trigger squeeze, effect of, 
upon curve of shot, 162 

— manipulation of, 167, 
168 

Trigger work, importance 

of speed in, 173 
Twist, definition of, 240 

— gain, advantages of, 225 

— importance of sufficiency 
of, in increased bullet 
weight, 122 

— relation of quickness in, 
to accuracy in Springfield 
and Krag, 23, 24 

Umbrella, 30-caliber bullet, 
illustration of, 99 

U. M. C. No. 8 primer, use 
of, with Frankford Gov- 
ernment shell, 130 

U. S. Small-Arms Firing 
Regulations, 1913, ex- 
tracts from, 235-238 



282 



INDEX 



Velocity, allowance for, in 
sighting, 153 

— as regards loading 150- 
grain cartridge, 117 

— boat-tailed base bullet, 
as improvement in, 100 

— bullet ogive point experi- 
ments for improvement in, 
101 

— cone base bullet, as im- 
provement in, 101 

— chronograph for, 215 

— definition of, 240 

— effect of increase in, with 
bullet weight upon breech 
pressure, 121 

- importance of considera- 
tion of, in matter of bul- 
lets, 94 

-in relation to cartridges, 
215 

• Krag 1898, 200-grain 
bullet, table showing, 141 

- muzzle, with Springfield 
'06, table showing, 139 

reduction of, relation to 
accurate shooting, 5 

relation of selection of 
cartridges to, 115 

tables of, with loads and 
pressures, in actual firing, 
244-246 

— with Du Pont No. 17 
powder, 118 

No. 75 powder, 120 

Viridia color glass, 148, 
149 



Visibility, differences in, as 
affecting range, 154 

V rear sight, illustrations 
of, 62 

V sight, discussion of, 62 
Vulcanite butt plate, in Sav- 
age rifle, 7 

— in Winchester rifle, 7 

W. A. powder, formula of, 
for rifle cleaning, 85 

— ■ method for application 
of, 85 

Walnut, English, Circassian 
and American black, for 
gun stocks, 49 

Waver of sighting, correc- 
tion of, 170 

— illustration of, 169 
Weight of modern target 

rifles, 32 

Whelen, Lt. Col., pattern of 
rod for rifle cleaning ad- 
vocated by, 85 

Wimbledon Cup Match, use 
of telescopic sights in, 
75 

Winchester action, on 32/40 
Scheutzen rifle, illustra- 
tion of, facing, 30 

— barrel mounts, fitted to 
30/40 Winchester single- 
shot rifle, illustrated, fac- 
ing, 20 

— bullet, expanding point, 
improvements in, 100 



283 



INDEX 



Winchester 5A telescopic 
sight, best commercial, 
78 

— 30-caliber bullet, illus- 
tration of, 99 

— 180-grain bullet, with the 
U. M. C. Co. 8 Primer, 
results with, ISO 

— 1895 model, with 3/3 Lee 
Metford cartridge, insuffi- 
ciency of, for moose, 14 

— 'repeating rifle, evolution 
of, 210 

— single shot No. 2, use of, 
for modern target rifles, 
31 

— 106 smokeless, small 
bore, 211 

— special Tettler Ammu- 
nition^ illustration of 
shots with, facing, 38 

— type of rifling, illustra- 
tion of, 35 



or across, 



Wind, up or across, in 

stalking, necessity of 

keeping, 175, 176 
Wind allowance, how to be 

obtained, 145, 146 
Wind force, effect of, upon 

bullet, 144 
Wind gauge, definition of, 

241 

— on near sights of Scheut- 
zen rifles, 32, 33 

Windage, definition of, 241 

— effect of, 143 
Wooseman, death of, 203 

Zeiss prismatic telescope, 
fitted to 30/40 Winches- 
ter single-shot rifle, illus- 
trated, facing, 20 

Zionang 1 , couajJcirisuU. of, a3 

barrel maker of Scheut- 
zen rifles with Pope, 
32 



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